What
Does Your Workspace Say About You?
by Tag Goulet -
You have been
facing a challenge at work, but at least you can
laugh about it when you find a similar situation
illustrated in a cartoon. The cartoon summarizes
your frustration with management so well, you’re
thinking of posting it by your desk.
Before you do,
you may want to give some serious thought to the
message you will be conveying to everyone who
comes by your workspace.
According to Jo-Ellan
Dimitrius, PhD, workplace “props” can offer
significant clues to an employee’s personality,
values, and level of commitment to the job.
Although most
workers have little control over such matters
as furniture style or carpet colour, many companies
allow employees freedom in how they decorate their
workspace.
Dimitrius, author
of
Reading People,
says workplace items such as calendars, photographs,
and reading materials are particularly revealing
because, with so many choices available, they
provide the best opportunity for individual statement.
While you may
not label others based on such items, others may
be making judgements about you. After all,
a
Dilbert
day planner communicates different messages than
a motivational calendar featuring slogans about
teamwork and perseverance.
And what if an
employee has no props? In my experience,
employees who choose not to have workplace props
may see their position as temporary. Fewer
props make for easier packing when it is time
to move on.
Clutter also communicates
a message. Says Dimitrius, “A messy, disorganized
desk usually points to a messy, disorganized person,
and never mind the standard assurances to the
contrary.”
However, if you
juggle a variety of projects in a fast-paced organization,
some clutter is probably expected. To paraphrase
a poster I saw in a busy office, an empty desk
may be seen as a sign of an empty mind – or at
least a mind that isn’t facing many professional
challenges.
Because what is
acceptable varies from one workplace to another,
I suggest you take a look at the messages you
are communicating through your workspace.
You may just decide the best place for that controversial
cartoon is at home.
Published with permission from FabJob.com. Visit www.FabJob.com to discover how to break into the career of your dreams
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