In a method for operating a workstation of a textile machine, in particular a textile machine with a plurality of similar workstations, by one operator, in order to operate the workstation, a plurality of individual working steps, differing according to the situation, of a work order are carried out, and the operator and a higher-level control, in particular a control of the textile machine, can communicate with one another by means of a portable communications device. The control sends a work instruction for performing a working step to the portable communications device of the operator, the performance of the working step by the control is detected by means of signals of the workstation and/or of the portable communications device and, optionally, a further work instruction for operating the workstation is sent to the portable communication device of the operator or displayed there, as soon as the previous working step has been performed or could not be performed. The invention further relates to a corresponding operating device.