Reprinted
with permission by Messy desk or clean? It tells a lot about you
Friday,
March 24, 2006 Is your desk taking over the office? Papers spilling over to a co-worker's desk, file-folders that haven't been used for anything except a coaster and more than one coffee cup you wouldn't let your dog drink out of? Or is your desk so clean it looks like it's your first day of work, even though you've been with the company for nearly a decade? A recent survey by organizational manufacturer Pendaflex found employees tend to fall into one of three categories when it comes to organization: Pilers, Filers and Tossers. Which category you fall into might say more about you than you think. "Whether you're a piler, filer or tosser, everyone can benefit from proper organization," said Sharon Mann, Pendaflex organizational expert, in a written message. "Keeping a desk entirely clear is both unrealistic and unnecessary." The most popular type of organizer was the Piler (48 percent) -- characterized by keeping their work space less than neat with piles of paper, files and books spreading their allotted space larger by the workday. Away from work, more than half of respondents in this category said their house is "somewhat messy." And even though they are "workaholics" and "sophisticated," they enjoy unwinding by watching their favorite sport or relaxing in natural settings. Pilers also were most likely to have a master's or doctorate degree. Filers are the second most typical type of worker, with 38 percent of respondents admitting they take their organizational habits home with them from the office. The majority of respondents held bachelor degrees and management positions and cited tropical vacations to be their destination of choice. Tossers are among the least populated category, with only 14 percent of respondents admitting to tossing documents and cutting down on clutter. Most respondents described their home as "perfect" and tended to be the group leader at work. Terry Wall of the Washington Township-based T.G. Wall Management Consulting said he uses electronic lists to stay organized. He doesn't think how someone's desk is organized is an exact representation of the person. "Some people's desk look like an Office Depot truck unloaded on it," said Wall. "But they can find what they need in five seconds. Staying organized is more of a mind-set." (If you like this article, check out the other articles on the Special Edition! page.) More Articles in Special Edition! (Also, discover startling new secrets of leadership by checking out past editions of Leadership Unlimited, my monthly column on leadership.) The Leadership Unlimited Archive Visit the Special Edition! page often, so that you'll have the latest articles about leadership, communication, organizational culture, presentation skills, and other important topics. |
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