day 752: Open Floor Plans

"A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue."

We work in the age of transparency and that transparency even shows up in how we work today. Last week I was in the offices of a fast growing and very hot start-up and I wasn't surprised to see the open floor plan and everyone sitting out in the open doing their work. The co-founders/CEOs were right there at the big table, one on the phone and the other with his chair swiveled around talking to someone else who had pulled around their chair for a quick conversation. The generation that is here is way less concerned about having an office, or even a cubicle. They prefer it all to be in the open and for that level of transparency to exist. It does force a change in communication and how we treat each other. It's good as it isn't just about what we want to do, but instead how we do what we need to do in the presence of others who also share the space. This should lead to greater lines of open communication and even better, higher trust levels and stronger relationships. Just by being with someone all day long, we get to know them better and therefore appreciate more who they are. Leaders and CEOs have never had a better chance to be in tough with their teams than today.

Solomon gives us good advice on how to also treat our work neighbors. If we deride or criticize our work neighbors all day long we just guess what we can expect back. Solomon says it takes judgment to not do so. And it takes understanding to hold our tongues. Today as we start this work week, look around at who we co-exist with in our open floor plans of today. They are our neighbors and they deserve us to be the best we can be with them. We forget that they come to work, like us, with their own set of issues and problems and like us, are many times just trying to make it through the day. What can we do to help them today? How can we conduct ourselves so that we have been good neighbors to them? It's worth watching and acting accordingly today.

Reference: Proverbs 11:12