Read territorial markers without overreacting
Recognize territorial markers and ask for access without treating them as hostility.
Objects can speak for boundaries. In shared workplaces, territorial markers help people create enough privacy and control to work. Marker versus motive A bag on a chair may mean "I am saving this for a teammate," "I need the surface for drafts," or "I need a buffer while I finish." The marker tells you there is a boundary; it does not tell you the motive. Skilled colleagues ask before crossing it. The access script Use three parts: name the object, ask the access question, offer a time or alternative. For example: "Are you using this chair for your drafts, or…
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