
Reprinted
with permission by
The Courier-Post
Messy
desk or clean? It tells a lot about you
Friday,
March 24, 2006
By Katie Grasso
Courier-Post Staff
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."
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