I'd love your pragmatic tips and own experiences of how to better cope with a non ideal work environment. It seems unrealistic to change the environment (OK, people or their working styles), so wiser for me to learn to cope better.
I've been in my role/company 10+ years. Role requires prolonged concentration, attention to nitty gritty detail, etc and is heavily driven by external deadlines. Due to changes in office layout and personnel, my environment has changed (my viewpoint) from generally calm, quiet and productive to loud, distracting and unproductive. Most current colleagues prefer loud and find it motivating - their roles require concentration, but not over prolonged periods, and they are less deadline driven. This change has reduced my productivity, happiness, motivation and consequently my self esteem. I no longer feel a good fit in this company.
I have already tried:
- noise blocking headphones, wordless music etc
- working from home when I'm not needed face to face (hasn't helped enough)
Colleagues are aware of my preferences and there's been training on how/why different people thrive in different environments. Most colleagues talk (very) loudly across open plan space. Some wear their loudness as a badge of honour. Many continue their work at home in the evenings (no overtime pay, I assume, though viewed as hard working heroes by management). I don't want to, I want my own paid hours to be efficient and productive so I can mentally switch off when I leave the building - my choice, I appreciate we're all different.
I feel everyone has the right to a happy productive work environment, so long as they don't reduce the happiness and productivity of others. Clearly, there are many different interpretations of "happy and productive". So, a compromise will be good.
In the last few weeks I have got close to quitting (I didn't as the satisfaction feeling would likely wear off too fast, then I'd be jobless), and close to fighting it out (again, short term release, long term pain). If I quit, there's unlikely to be equivalent roles within a 1 hour commute, so a change of career might be needed.
Due to the current neighbouring colleagues and the company's management group (some of these are my neighbouring colleagues) I cannot see the environment returning towards my preferences.
So... how do I better cope?
Thanks in advance...