fb

Who are you sat next to?

Who are you sat next to?

If you’re in the office at the moment take a look at the person next to you. Would you say that he or she is a “good worker” or a “toxic neighbour”?

A recent bit of research by economists from Harvard Business School has shed some light on the type of person you should be sitting next to.

If you’re an “average worker” and you sit next to a hard working and diligent person then your performance is likely to improve.

Unfortunately though the opposite is true and if you’re an average person who sits next to somebody who isn’t very good at their job then that badly performing person could well take you down to their level.

The researchers studied data from seating plans and reports from over 2,000 employees. The performance of these employees was rated based on the time they spent to complete a task as well as quality and effectiveness. Their efficiency was based on how often they had to ask for help.

One of the interesting bits of the research was finding out whether when a person sat next to a high performing individual that person’s performance improved because they learnt from the better performing individual or they were inspired by him or her.

When the research team split these people back up again the average worker’s performance reverted back to the average level rather than stay at the high performing level. This implied that the improvement was not due to learning new skills but instead was due to being inspired by the good worker.

When it comes to sitting next to a “toxic employee” who doesn’t perform, the bad news is that the negativity rubs off on the good employee almost immediately.

So it may well be worth trying to sit next to the stars of the office rather than the toxic ones

A quick word of warning though and if the person you sit next to has recently asked their boss to move away from you asap then the chances are that you aren’t the star of the office but instead are…

Share this entry

Related articles

View All Articles

Recent articles

View All Articles
Professionally qualified in one year – DipIFR
Mar 22, 2024
Title
Professionally qualified in one year – DipIFR
Excerpt

Unlocking Opportunities with DipIFR Introduction In the second installment of our series, we shift our focus to the […]

Professionally qualified in one year – CMA (USA)
Mar 21, 2024
Title
Professionally qualified in one year – CMA (USA)
Excerpt

Accelerate Your Career with CMA Certification Series Introduction In our fast-paced world, the demand for highly skilled professionals […]

Lego – building strategy blocks…
Mar 14, 2024
Title
Lego – building strategy blocks…
Excerpt

In the contemporary business environment, characterised by rapid changes and unforeseen challenges, companies across various industries must adapt […]

Weathering the chocolate storm?
Mar 12, 2024
Title
Weathering the chocolate storm?
Excerpt

In today’s interconnected global economy, the ripple effects of local weather phenomena can have far-reaching consequences, extending far […]

Pass the doughnuts…
Mar 12, 2024
Title
Pass the doughnuts…
Excerpt

Does your weight affect the amount of money you earn? That’s an interesting question and researchers from the […]

The Significance of Audit Quality: Lessons from KPMG’s Fines
Mar 06, 2024
Title
The Significance of Audit Quality: Lessons from KPMG’s Fines
Excerpt

In the intricate world of finance and business, the accuracy and integrity of a company’s financial statements stand […]

Insider Trading: A Cautionary Tale from the Oil Industry
Feb 29, 2024
Title
Insider Trading: A Cautionary Tale from the Oil Industry
Excerpt

In the complex world of finance, insider trading remains one of the most controversial and closely watched issues. […]

Lessons from Kraft Heinz’s Sales Decline
Feb 20, 2024
Title
Lessons from Kraft Heinz’s Sales Decline
Excerpt

In the fast-paced world of business, staying ahead of market trends and consumer preferences is paramount. The recent […]