How can I set up my office to discourage people from standing behind me?

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I have my office set up so I am facing the door. There are several people who insist on walking around my desk, putting them in uncomfortable proximity, and allowing them to hover over me. Is there a way to set up my office to discourage these people from coming around my desk? I think there must be psychological tricks I can use to make the office space less inviting to them.

office-layout

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asked 10 mins ago

Lori Petterson

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up vote
1
down vote

favorite

I have my office set up so I am facing the door. There are several people who insist on walking around my desk, putting them in uncomfortable proximity, and allowing them to hover over me. Is there a way to set up my office to discourage these people from coming around my desk? I think there must be psychological tricks I can use to make the office space less inviting to them.

office-layout

share|improve this question

asked 10 mins ago

Lori Petterson

61

New contributor

Lori Petterson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

up vote
1
down vote

favorite

I have my office set up so I am facing the door. There are several people who insist on walking around my desk, putting them in uncomfortable proximity, and allowing them to hover over me. Is there a way to set up my office to discourage these people from coming around my desk? I think there must be psychological tricks I can use to make the office space less inviting to them.

office-layout

share|improve this question

asked 10 mins ago

Lori Petterson

61

New contributor

Lori Petterson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

I have my office set up so I am facing the door. There are several people who insist on walking around my desk, putting them in uncomfortable proximity, and allowing them to hover over me. Is there a way to set up my office to discourage these people from coming around my desk? I think there must be psychological tricks I can use to make the office space less inviting to them.

office-layout

office-layout

share|improve this question

asked 10 mins ago

Lori Petterson

61

New contributor

Lori Petterson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

asked 10 mins ago

Lori Petterson

61

New contributor

Lori Petterson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

asked 10 mins ago

Lori Petterson

61

New contributor

Lori Petterson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

asked 10 mins ago

Lori Petterson

61

asked 10 mins ago

Lori Petterson

61

61

New contributor

Lori Petterson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

New contributor

Lori Petterson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

Lori Petterson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

2 Answers
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Sit with your back against the wall, as close to it as possible.

Backpack on the floor on the open side will also give you a bit more room

share

answered 3 mins ago

Strader

2,844422

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up vote
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Probably the best approach is to make being somewhere else feel more natural and appealing - difficult to be specific without seeing the office but I would try:

• Place a comfy-looking chair opposite your desk (angle the chair so as to be slightly diagonal to your desk to signal that it's "open").




• If the people visiting you are needing to see your screen then make sure it's mounted on a monitor arm or something similar that will allow you to easily rotate it so that both you and the person in the chair can see it.




• If you anticipate that the person is going to be in your office for more than a few seconds smile, gesture at the chair and invite them to "take a seat" - you're then putting them in the subconscious position of having to refuse your polite invitation if they want to not sit there, and in many cultures the majority of people will prefer not to start an interaction on a confrontational note (even a minor one)

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answered 3 mins ago

motosubatsu

36.6k1595155

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
0
down vote

Sit with your back against the wall, as close to it as possible.

Backpack on the floor on the open side will also give you a bit more room

share

answered 3 mins ago

Strader

2,844422

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

Sit with your back against the wall, as close to it as possible.

Backpack on the floor on the open side will also give you a bit more room

share

answered 3 mins ago

Strader

2,844422

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

up vote
0
down vote

Sit with your back against the wall, as close to it as possible.

Backpack on the floor on the open side will also give you a bit more room

share

answered 3 mins ago

Strader

2,844422

Sit with your back against the wall, as close to it as possible.

Backpack on the floor on the open side will also give you a bit more room

share

answered 3 mins ago

Strader

2,844422

share

share

answered 3 mins ago

Strader

2,844422

answered 3 mins ago

Strader

2,844422

answered 3 mins ago

Strader

2,844422

2,844422

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

Probably the best approach is to make being somewhere else feel more natural and appealing - difficult to be specific without seeing the office but I would try:

• Place a comfy-looking chair opposite your desk (angle the chair so as to be slightly diagonal to your desk to signal that it's "open").




• If the people visiting you are needing to see your screen then make sure it's mounted on a monitor arm or something similar that will allow you to easily rotate it so that both you and the person in the chair can see it.




• If you anticipate that the person is going to be in your office for more than a few seconds smile, gesture at the chair and invite them to "take a seat" - you're then putting them in the subconscious position of having to refuse your polite invitation if they want to not sit there, and in many cultures the majority of people will prefer not to start an interaction on a confrontational note (even a minor one)

share

answered 3 mins ago

motosubatsu

36.6k1595155

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

Probably the best approach is to make being somewhere else feel more natural and appealing - difficult to be specific without seeing the office but I would try:

• Place a comfy-looking chair opposite your desk (angle the chair so as to be slightly diagonal to your desk to signal that it's "open").




• If the people visiting you are needing to see your screen then make sure it's mounted on a monitor arm or something similar that will allow you to easily rotate it so that both you and the person in the chair can see it.




• If you anticipate that the person is going to be in your office for more than a few seconds smile, gesture at the chair and invite them to "take a seat" - you're then putting them in the subconscious position of having to refuse your polite invitation if they want to not sit there, and in many cultures the majority of people will prefer not to start an interaction on a confrontational note (even a minor one)

share

answered 3 mins ago

motosubatsu

36.6k1595155

add a comment | 

up vote
0
down vote

up vote
0
down vote

Probably the best approach is to make being somewhere else feel more natural and appealing - difficult to be specific without seeing the office but I would try:

• Place a comfy-looking chair opposite your desk (angle the chair so as to be slightly diagonal to your desk to signal that it's "open").




• If the people visiting you are needing to see your screen then make sure it's mounted on a monitor arm or something similar that will allow you to easily rotate it so that both you and the person in the chair can see it.




• If you anticipate that the person is going to be in your office for more than a few seconds smile, gesture at the chair and invite them to "take a seat" - you're then putting them in the subconscious position of having to refuse your polite invitation if they want to not sit there, and in many cultures the majority of people will prefer not to start an interaction on a confrontational note (even a minor one)

share

answered 3 mins ago

motosubatsu

36.6k1595155

Probably the best approach is to make being somewhere else feel more natural and appealing - difficult to be specific without seeing the office but I would try:

• Place a comfy-looking chair opposite your desk (angle the chair so as to be slightly diagonal to your desk to signal that it's "open").




• If the people visiting you are needing to see your screen then make sure it's mounted on a monitor arm or something similar that will allow you to easily rotate it so that both you and the person in the chair can see it.




• If you anticipate that the person is going to be in your office for more than a few seconds smile, gesture at the chair and invite them to "take a seat" - you're then putting them in the subconscious position of having to refuse your polite invitation if they want to not sit there, and in many cultures the majority of people will prefer not to start an interaction on a confrontational note (even a minor one)

share

answered 3 mins ago

motosubatsu

36.6k1595155

share

share

answered 3 mins ago

motosubatsu

36.6k1595155

answered 3 mins ago

motosubatsu

36.6k1595155

answered 3 mins ago

motosubatsu

36.6k1595155

36.6k1595155

add a comment | 

add a comment | 

Lori Petterson is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.

 

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