As with any new piece of automated equipment, navigating the proper etiquette of standing desks can involve a bit of a learning curve.
You will literally stand out. Embrace it.
“If you have a standing desk, that’s still viewed as being somewhat dorky,” said Joel Johnson, 37, a publishing consultant in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. “It’s not a big deal, but some people are never going to be accepting of it. Some people will roll their eyes. It’s fair game for light teasing.”
Think about where you take meetings and what it means.
If you’re standing and co-workers are sitting, it’s like you’re at a lectern, so rise (or sink) to their level. “There is a sitting area in my office with a table and a few chairs, but for a lot of meetings, people will just come and stand at my desk,” said David Carter, 47, the chief creative officer at Mithun agency in Minneapolis. “Psychologically, it says we’re not going to hang out and have a longer meeting than necessary. It’s a little bit of a power move.”