What is Your Office Saying About You?
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A few months ago, I received a frantic call from a client needing to get organized in a hurry. The next day, I waited for forty-five minutes in reception before encountering the world’s messiest office space; unopened mail covered the desk, paper obscured the furniture and boxes lined the floor. I was sitting directly behind one of the largest stacks, unnoticed as the client answered email. As soon as she realized I was there, she asked, “What do you have for me?” I was puzzled, “What do I have for you? You called me to get organized!” As she reached under a pile of papers for her daily calendar, she laughingly admitted. “Of course, your timing couldn’t be better!” Her office was distracting, disorganized and out of control, three adjectives no one would want associated with their business style. How your space looks tells people who you are, what is important to you and how you conduct business.
Keeping in mind that there is no second chance to make a first impression, put organization as the first priority on your daily planner. To ensure that your office is saying something impressive about you, try these simple solutions:
- Avoid multiple patterns and colors that can be distracting. Consider storage boxes in the same color placed on a shelf to hold archival filing and create unity.
- Don’t be a serial note-taker. Choose a lined journal that you can date to make notes of phone calls, meetings and information. Transfer any random notes at day’s end into this master book.
- Make your filing cabinet your best friend. Do not wait till tomorrow to file what you have already used today. Avoid paper pile-ups by putting things away immediately.
- Eliminate unnecessary holders on your desk, especially those that don’t work. Clutter can be combated by only keeping the items on your desk that are used most frequently; anything else should be tossed or stored.
- Create an office inspiration board and use this space to showcase your creativity and personality. Articles, pictures and patterns can be artfully displayed on a board, which you can update with your inspiration of the day.
- Choose a signature color to use to decorate your office. Matching files and accessories will create a chic, monochromatic look.
- Get over your reading material. If magazines, periodicals and newspapers are piling up unread, review your subscriptions and pare down. Creating an hour a week to review the trades is the best way to stay ahead of the issues.
- Plan fifteen minutes daily to straighten up your desk and files. Staying on top of office organization will ensure success.