I love the office “fun guy” but he’s distracting!

Dear Aunty B,

What do I do about this great guy in my office who is so loud, so cheerful and so drives everyone up the wall. It seems he has no turn off metre! If we do tell him to quieten down his face kind of crumbles and he looks hurt like a little boy. Our job is quite stressful and needs a lot of concentration and while we love this guy and he is really good at his job, I am starting to imagine the office without him. He can’t go into an office as he is too low down the pecking order and he would put noses out of joints.

Any suggestions?
Leo

Dear Leo,

What are you? A bunch of chooks? What are you talking about? Pecking order indeed. Look, the kind of culture you want to create is one where no one wants an office. Your place is such a great place to work, the people are so committed to their jobs while having lots of fun, that going into an office is a sign that you don’t deserve to hang out with the fun kids. You can’t change his personality and why would you want to? And you certainly don’t want to move him on as people like that, while driving you nuts at times, add a lot of energy to an office.

So here is what you must do. Stick him in an office. It doesn’t have to be the corner affair or even a bit posh. If needs be, put a small glass box around his desk. Tell him he is moving in there because he is loud – but in a good way. Tell anyone who is miffed that fortunately for them they fit in better and don’t have to work inside a room little bigger than a prison cell, cut off from the office banter and excluded from the coffee run.

Good luck!
You Aunty B

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