Many people see the idea of working in a shared office space as being a hindrance for productivity. However, no matter the size of your space, its location inside or outside the home, or the number of people you must share space with, there are a number of ways to make the arrangement work. Here are four tips for setting up a shared office space that promotes productivity and individual space.

1. Boundaries

When setting up a shared office space, whether you will be using the space part-time or full-time, boundaries are important. Work to develop a strong professional relationship with others who share your space and open up the dialogue about space boundaries. Consider the following questions, which may bring up topics to talk with your officemates about

• Will some of your conversations be about confidential information?Do you anticipate having frequent or lengthy phone or in-person conversations?
• What kind of noise level will you need to work most effectively?
• How much physical space do you need?

Approach your coworkers about some of these topics and establish clear boundaries.

2. Personalize

A comfortable, personal work space has been proven to be effective in increasing productivity. While there may be limits to the amount of customization that you can do in a shared space, you may have more options than you realize. It should be easy to find space for pictures of friends or relatives, important awards, motivational items, or visual pieces. Some people purchase office supplies that are colorful or graphical, which can be a simple way to make a work space feel more personal.

3. Maximize space

Many shared spaces are small spaces, so maximizing your use of available space can be very important. If you are able to make permanent changes to the space, consider putting up organizational items that are hung vertically to use otherwise wasted vertical space. Other key places for utilizing space include under cabinets, beneath desks, or on top of filling cabinets. Some retailers specialize in organizational items for small spaces; taking a look through these stores online or in person may give you ideas about maximizing your space.

4. Organize

Perhaps the most important trait of someone who works in a shared office space is that the person be organized. Sharp organization skills will help you make use of limited space to create plenty of room. Since the office is not solely yours, keeping the space organized can go a long way in maintain positive relationships with your officemates. Also, if you will be working in the space part-time, you may need to travel with many of your work materials. This can present a particular challenge, so you may want to invest in portable organization systems. Finally, consider maintaining many of your work files electronically; the physical space saved by having largely virtual files can make it much easier for you to work in a shared space.

No matter what industry or job you are in, a shared work space can present some challenges. However, maintaining business etiquette and establishing a working relationship with your office mates, personalizing your space in little ways and using effective, space-saving organizational tools can allow you to work in a shared space without compromising your productivity.

Involved in the interesting world of www.CartridgeSave.co.uk, Tim gets to try out a lot of things like HP ink cartridges to test their quality and effectiveness.

photo credit: rolfkleef