Don’t Be A Quitter – Keep Your Workspaces Neat & Clean
February 18, 2015
By Brian Maynor
We all know work can be like theatre. Beyond the daily drama and comedy there are the sets: typically messy, coffee cup riddled desks with papers stacked all around in a disorganized jumble only you can decipher.
Being a product of my environment, a messy desk or office drives me crazy. It has to be cleaned and organized before I can start working. If not it’s really hard for me to concentrate, focus and get anything done.
A recent study published on HBR.org has gone one step further and proven this mantle of hard work can actually be counter productive and indicate you’ve actually given up. In other words a messy desk can say you’re a quitter, not a hard worker. Here are some highlights from the researchers’ study and some tips on managing your workspaces:
1. Understanding the false sense of comfort. Too much work. Not enough room. It’s like a nest offering security and protection. These are some of the most common defenses for a disorganized, messy workspace. While they may be comforting this study shows that people working in a disorderly office are less efficient, less persistent and more frustrated than those working in neat offices.
2. Clutter causes you to give up. In the study people exposed to the messy desk abandoned a task one-and-a-half times sooner than those experiencing a clean desk. The conclusion was that the mess represented a threat affecting the person’s ability to self-regulate. We all have task we know we need to do, but a messy desk can represent a loss of control causing us to give up on it quicker than we probably should.
3. Look for other areas of clutter at home. We’ve talked about how much your home life affects your work life, so the same theory of clutter applies. Look at your office, front table or closet. Do you just keep piling things on top of each other, or do you take time to sort through it all and arrange it neatly? Clutter happens quickly and it’s much more daunting to tackle a big mess than it is to keep things neat from the beginning. Sorting your mail and discarding junk takes a few minutes but saves a lot of space. Putting your keys and wallet in a bowl keep them from getting lost, and hanging up your clothes instead of tossing them in a pile helps it be ready to wear again.
4. Manage your spaces. Whether it’s a drawer organizer, decorative document holders or new hangers a few simple changes make a big difference in managing space. As for cups and trash try using one nice cup that you keep on a coaster and toss the paper ones away when you walk in the door. We tend to take better care of things we value and there’s not much value is in a $0.99 to go cup.
While a mess may be comforting and reassuring it can prevent you from actually taking action. Don’t let disorder hinder your productivity, especially since it’s easy to fix.
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I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
