My cube mate listens to music that is so loud, I can hear it through his earphones. This affects my concentration. What can I do? asks Nate.

Music, food smells, gum chewing, and other overt behaviors that are potentially distracting can be frustrating. The best action you can take is to open a discussion with your cube mate. Ask him to work with you to set some guidelines for your workspace so that you can both be at your best. Share your concerns, actively listen to his, and you may be able to figure out ways to accommodate personal preferences while keeping the peace. Civility in the workplace is threatened not only by seemingly rude behavior, but by our negligence to talk about it.

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