Steps in overcoming Privacy.

Some office workers will use the handling of confidential documents and information as an excuse to hide behind tall partitions, close themselves off behind walls, boxes, plants or anything else they can lay there hands on. It is essential that a firm commitment be made to control this habit. As a person understands his reasons for the behavior, and
is sensitive to the conditions or situations that may trigger a desire for the
act, he develops the power to control it. Our offices should be clean and open
so that the company spirit may dwell within us. Privacy is a sinful habit
that robs one of the work spirit and creates guilt and emotional stress. It is a habit that is
totally self-centered, and secretive, and in no way expresses the proper use
that corporate power gives to its employees to fulfill their purposes.

Be assured that you can be cured of your difficulty. Many have been,
both male and female, and you can be also if you determine that it must be so.
This determination is the first step. That is where we begin. You
must decide that you will end this practice, and when you make that decision,
the problem will be greatly reduced at once.
But it must be more than a hope or a wish, more than knowing that it
is good for you. It must be actually a DECISION. If you truly make up your
mind that you will be cured, then you will have the strength to resist any
tendencies which you may have and any temptations which may come to you.
After you have made this decision, then observe the following specific
guidelines:
A Guide to Self-Control to reduce the need for privacy:
1. Avoid being alone as much as possible. Find good company and stay in this good company.

2. When the temptation for privacy is strong, yell _STOP_ to those thoughts as loudly as you can in your mind and then recite your company mission statement or sing the company song. It is important to turn your thoughts away from the selfish need to indulge.

3. Set goals of abstinence, begin with a day, then a week, month, year and finally commit to never doing it again. Until you commit yourself to NEVER AGAIN you will always be open to temptation.

4. Change in behaviour and attitude is most easily achieved through a changed self-image. Spend time every day imagining yourself strong and in control, easily overcoming tempting situations.

5. If your company policy provides for enclosed offices or cubicles leave the door open or have partition partly removed, to discourage being alone in total privacy. At home take cool brief showers.

6. Do not wear hats, sunglasses, or capes. Remove all clutter, boxes, paper stacks from your desk. Place plants in corners. Make sure you hang your coat in the coat closet and not on a coat stand or on your glass partition.
7. Avoid people, situations, pictures or reading materials that might contain confidential information.

8. It is sometimes helpful to have a physical object to use in overcoming this problem. Your payslip , firmly held in hand, even in bed at night has proven helpful in extreme cases.

9. In very severe cases it may be necessary to tie yourself to a chair within the open office in order that the urge for privacy can be broken. This can also be accomplished by removing all partitions in the office or changing the wall to glass.