Don't Let Your Cubicle Cooties Infect the Office

4. Sight

Like wearing ties similar to the boss' favorite, the goal in visual presentation of your wee cubby is not to stick out, save in your ability to effortlessly conform to the company culture.

Yes, it's a drag and Miss Conduct loves R. Crumb drawings too, but the office is for meeting your career goals, not getting high-fives from fellow fans of Mr. Natural. Like Coco Chanel, who always removed one accessory before she walked out the door, when you contemplate your cubicular decor, put up a bit less visual material than the best-accepted member of your office does, then take a few more things down.

Simple is elegant -- even if you're showcasing a snapshot of your kids. In most offices, a couple of items that work as conversation-starters or mental health breaks is good; if you can't stand so little decor, it's time to examine why you want to advertise everything about yourself to everyone who walks past.

On the other hand, if things in your cubicle have gotten so bad you can't stop looking up to daydream, then put up one of those awful, sentimental kitten posters. If anything can keep your eyes from wandering, that will. And don't bring darts. OK -- maybe just one, for its forehead.

5. Sound

Again, blend in and harmonize. If you work in a bullpen, it'll mean speaking just shy of a shout.

But remember, if you keep your voice down just a bit below a bellow, you might "accidentally" find out when the boss is taking a long weekend.

If noisy neighbors overwhelm your powers of concentration, Miss Conduct is a big fan of the experts at the Ear Plug Super Store, where they sell all sorts of products and advice for dampening your aural surroundings and amplifying the sounds that will help you do your work.