Dear Readers,

Has this ever happened to you? A new department is expanding and your department has to accommodate the new employees by doubling up on office space. That’s the news I got a few weeks ago. Not only am I losing my wonderful office mate – a philosophy professor fond of quoting both famous novelists and Dr. Seuss – I must now share my 10 x 12 foot university office with not just one, but two other lecturers.

Sharing office space with someone else is an art, and our talents are being called into service more frequently than ever before for a host of reasons. The sagging economy is the most obvious. Since office space is the second largest expense after paying for staff, it’s not surprising that managers eye it as a budget item that could use a trim.

Some businesses see shuffling employees into a shared space as a way to facilitate teamwork. Other organizations feel forced to choose between adding space or upgrading technology, and technology wins out. Younger employees tend to be more comfortable with that choice than older workers, who have long viewed the size and location of one’s office as a measure of professional stature.

In any case, since it’s rarely possible with today’s tight budgets to reverse the decision – and my case is no exception – I decided to see if there are ways to make the most of being shoehorned in with near strangers. And, of course, there are.

First there are space-saving measures. Experts advise clearing the desk of photos and hanging them on the wall. Continue to think vertically. Add space on your desk by adding shelves on top or tucking things underneath. Often the space surrounding your legs can be used for extra storage.

Organize, organize, organize. Key folders and equipment should be within reach. But be ruthless about disposing of everything else you don’t need. Organize the items that remain by category. Books should be grouped by topic or alphabetized.

Next comes attitude adjustment. Plan to be in problem-solving mode. Make sure to talk initially about what everyone needs to get his or her jobs done and then check in on a regular basis. Your goals should be to stay out of each other’s way yet facilitate productivity any way you can. If that means speaking more softly, or moving your file cabinet a couple of inches to the left, do it. Then you’ll have some capital to spend when you need to request some important concessions to satisfy your own needs.

If you do not know your new office mates at all, try looking at the bigger picture. It’s quite possible you will pick up some useful tips. In fact, it’s almost impossible, unless you are completely closed to new ideas, not to be enriched by spending time getting to know another human being. Often the more different someone is from you, the more enriching the experience.

Most cities have companies that rent out shared office space to people who would otherwise work from home, Office Nomads in Seattle and Independents Hall in Philadelphia are two examples of companies that promote “co-working.” It’s an arrangement where people can drop in irregularly or pay a monthly fee for regular use of a desk, locked file cabinet, telephone use and conference space and as much networking as they want. Office Nomad’s current members include an executive starting a U.S. division for an international food company, a copywriter and an urban planner. Its Web site states, ”We are dedicated to cultivating a dynamic, creative and productive community office…[for people] who think that by working together they can accomplish more than they could by working alone.”

The idea of creating a dynamic office can also be pursued by people who work for the same employer. After all, you are far more likely to have at least some overlapping goals. Office Nomads co-founder Susan Evans says she and her partner developed what they lovingly refer to as a “Don’t Be a Jerk Policy” as part of the agreement that members sign. It calls on co-workers to refrain from anything that would interfere with “peaceful operation or enjoyment” of the space. Sounds simple enough. Where do I sign?