If you are sitting at your desk now, take a look around and ask
yourself: "What is this desk saying about me?"
For example, what messages does a three-day-old apple core send to
your co-workers, or the photo of your ex-girlfriend, or the novelty
postcard from Uncle Bob’s big summer holiday?
Ask a psychologist and, unsurprisingly, they’ll tell you that just
like the clothes we choose to wear or the meal we take at lunch,
our desk is often perceived as an extension of our personalities.
Nothing ground-breaking there – but certainly worth bearing in
mind.
Recent studies have revealed that desks can be useful to managers
attempting to understand and motivate their staff. Vice versa, if
you are interested in the way you are perceived at work – and
perhaps you are thinking of modifying that perception – a desktop
makeover is a great place to start.
When considering the state of your desk and what signals it sends
about you, keep in mind the following stereotypes:
The
motivated workspace. Strategically placing work
targets, charts, graphs and deadlines in plain view of passers-by
is likely to make them think you are ambitious and goal
orientated.
Family,
friends and pets. Lost that human touch? Littering
your space with pictures of these will give the impression that you
are a “people person”, motivated by the relationships around
you.
Hedonist’s
shrine. Adventure calendars, holiday postcards and
lively screen savers: sprinkling these around says, “I like a good
time.” You could well be perceived as the “work to live” type as
opposed to the “live to work”.
Fashion
hub. Need to say: style over substance? Or rather,
style with substance? A few well-placed fashionable gadgets or
accessories can raise your style stocks. Be careful though: like
beauty, what is fashionable changes between beholders.
The naked
desk. Often thought to be the workspace of more
introverted types. Other introvert signs are building a wall of
office files to hide behind or facing your desk in a position where
you avoid eye contact. However, with the rise in desktop
interpretations perhaps the bare desk is just a clever workplace
poker face.
A talking
point. Football team memorabilia, pictures of you
hugging your favourite band or a model of your dream car – build a
beacon like this to invite workplace comments.People who are happy
to reveal their interests are usually seen as extroverted – which
can be great, depending on your job.
Controlled
environment. Need to show your manager that you are
better organised this year? The tidy desktop just might help you
take a step in the right direction. Workers with an ordered space
are usually thought to be conscientious and punctual … but then
appearances can be deceptive!
Chaos
theory. Looking to appear capable of high-risk
multi-tasking? Consider spreading your stationery across your desk
at random, throw in a few half-empty coffee cups, and style a few
rough piles of documents. The messy desk can be associated with the
flexible multi-tasker able to switch between jobs quickly and
without stress. On the other hand, you could just appear
disorganised and unreliable...
The next time you walk across the office, take some time to analyse
your colleagues’ and manager’s desktops. You might find a new
friend, or realise how your desk needs to look to make your boss
smile.