Most of us don’t have the luxury of working from home.  Most of us are still trapped in the cubicle farms or factory floors.  Of course that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.  But many times it is.  Besides all of the usual hassles and issues of working with others (to err is human!), there is something I think we overlook – noise.

I was thinking about that today as I was having a hard time concentrating.  In my current consulting role I spend a lot of time in a cubicle.  Why?  Because sometimes there is no better way to get a feel for a culture and to develop relationships than to roll up your sleeves and sit next to everyone else.  Even if you’re a consultant.

This has been a big issue for me because I work best alone and in silence.  That’s two things that I can’t afford in this assignment.  But as I sit at my desk I notice that the HVAC system kicks on and off.  That wouldn’t be too bad if it weren’t for a wobbling fan somewhere in the system.  Because all I hear for hours is whump-whump-whump-whump…

Then I go home to my apartment.  Where I can hear whump-whump-whump-whump…

No.  I’m not hearing things from the office.  I’m hearing another HVAC system with a loose fan.  It seems to be an epidemic.

Is it any wonder that my stress level has been increasing?  I can’t get a good nights sleep because of the fan at the apartment.  I can’t concentrate at work because of another fan.  And when I get in my car to go somewhere all I hear is the hum of the tires on the road.

No matter where I turn there is noise.  It’s not loud noise, but it is ever present.  And as time goes on, it drains my energy, my creativity, and frankly puts me in a bad mood.

We spend millions on improving employee lives – but how resistant we become to fixing a wobbling fan.  I see that same principal time and again.  We focus on big, grand ideas.  Things that are sexy or interesting.  And forget to focus on the basics.

photo provided by flickr