What Your Office Appearance Says About You

It’s no secret that a clean and tidy office carries a certain level or sophistication and professionalism along with it. People who are well organized have a much better chance of climbing the corporate ladder. By keeping your workspace clean, you give the impression that you are efficient and detail oriented, two characteristics all employers look for in a worker. But did you know that having a not so tidy office space can sometimes have a negative effect on your career?

The state of your office or workspace can speak volumes about you as a worker. Having a cluttered work area tells your employer that you are disorganized, lazy, and worst of all apathetic about your job performance. Keep your desk neat and orderly to help give the appearance of organization and a streamlined work style. This will not only help your reputation, but having a clean work area will also help cut down on stress which is usually brought on from being disorganized.

Aside from a messy desk, there are several other small idiosyncrasies that can have a devastating effect on how people view you in the work place. The way you sit for instance, says a lot about you as a worker. Slouching in your office chair gives the appearance that you are bored or not engaged in you work. Not only that, but it’s also really bad for your back. The more comfortable you are, the more productive you will be. Sit up straight to help save your back and your office reputation.

Whether your office employs an inclusive office setting or hosts individual offices, it is important that you keep the area clean. If you work in an inclusive office where everyone shares the workspace, do your part to keep the area sanitary and inform your co-workers to do the same. A few messy members of a group can drag the whole team down. Even if you keep your own desk clean, it is important that everyone in your group performs well. As the old saying goes, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link”.

If you have your own office, then you only have yourself to work about. Keep your office clean to help make you appear more professional. Your employer will expect you to keep your corner of the office clean, so that you can be always running at maximum capacity. They don’t want to envision you frantically looking for reports through a sea of unfiled paperwork and refuse. You want a streamlined work space to help maintain a positive appearance in the workplace.

Even if you’re not the most productive worker in the office, once you clean up your area, you’ll begin to notice that you are getting more work done on a daily basis. Having everything in its proper place makes your day to day office work that much easier. If you’re productive and efficient, then it will only be a matter of time before you’re given that big promotion you’ve been waiting for.