Look Around Your Cube Or Office. Are You Unprofessional? According To This Piece Of Research I Am!
On my flight to New York last week I read an interesting article about office clutter. Specifically they were pointing out items that a person had in their cubicle or their office. According to Steelcase’s 2006 Workplace Index Survey, most employees would appear more professional by having fewer personal items on display, a study says.
I’m not sure I agree with that at all. I look around my office and I think it is clean, organized and VERY personalized. My thought is that I spend a tremendous amount of time in my office and I want to be very comfortable.
In the 2006 Workplace Index Survey, 95 managers were given descriptions of professional and unprofessional workers. They were then asked to construct the office of each worker by placing stickers of dozens of items, from staplers to family photos to plants, onto images of an office.
If more than one in five items in your office or cubicle are personal, you may be viewed as unprofessional, according to University of Michigan research. Are you kidding me? I must have 50 items in my office that are personalized. Anyone who knows me could pick out my office in two seconds. Yes I have a signed picture of John Daly winning the British Open, Yes I have an original Boston Garden Chair that is signed by Larry Bird. I could go on and on.
The researchers found that the professionalism of each worker was reflected in the proportion of objects that referenced their personal life.
HOW WORKERS PERSONALIZE
|
Item |
% of workers who have this item in their office |
Do I have it? |
|
Photographs |
84% |
yes |
|
Calendars |
55% |
yes |
|
Paintings and/or posters |
51% |
yes |
|
Knickknacks |
47% |
yes |
|
Flowers and/or plants |
46% |
no |
|
Radios or CD players |
41% |
yes |
|
Wall paint |
27% |
no |
|
Rugs |
16% |
no |
|
Decorative lighting |
15% |
no |
I have 5 out of the 9 items, so I assume I am unprofessional. In fact, I have 40+ pictures in my office so I am really, really unprofessional.
I look forward to your comments and knowing if you are unprofessional and hearing what you have in your office.
October 19th, 2007 at 9:58 am
today i have streamers, balloons, a handwritten “We Love Stephenie” poster, and balloon animals all over my office; so my clients must think i’m unprofessional, or it’s my birthday, or we are just crazy!!!! Normally, my office is very professional. i keep it neat and organized. i think having family photos and other personal items just shows that you feel that your job is a part of your life and that you feel comfortable in your office environment. i believe it’s a good sign when someone “moves in” to their cubicle/office. I feel that it means they plan to stick around for awhile!
As for the streamers and the balloons, our staff decorated my office as well as Erin Younger’s office (the associate director in Atlanta) for a late Boss’s Day Celebration. It made our morning!!!!
October 20th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I too have 5 of the 9 items which makes me unprofessional in the eyes of the creator of yet another survey. How can we live a successful and professional existence without some familiarity surrounding us daily? For me success represents photos, knicknacks, beautiful artwork etc.
Steph, who even knew it was Boss’ Day? Thanks for the reminder that no one in my office (including Deb or me) knew that? I guess I need to have a calendar in my office! That would make item #6….
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:14 am
Wall paint!! I don’t understand. My Walls are painted. Wouldn’t it be unprofessional if they weren’t. Or do they mean ‘ Do you have a multi-colored hippie mural on your wall?”
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:25 am
Merrill,
Jeez, after 40 years, I now know why I’m not a “professional”!!!! Who would have thought that just by removing several dozen personal items from my office, I would become an instant professional!!! Now, all I need to do is find them under all those half-read articles, printed reports I promised I would read, articles and books I promised to review, paperwork on current projects that are on ‘temporary’ hold, and those legal briefs I need to get up to speed on before my next court case.
At least I can find some of the plaques & certificates that everyone wanted to give me. But how do I cover all those darn holes?
Never mind - it’s a lot more fun being a non-professional.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:50 am
Gee, Merrill, I think we all know what to send you for your next b-day–some flowers and/or plants!! Or a decorative spotlight focused on that Boston Garden chair!!
October 22nd, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Only had two of the items Merrill—unless you call a lightly painted wall “painted”
Bill Glenn
October 22nd, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Is a broken lava lamp adorned with a “Late Night Team” award considered “decorative lighting”, a “knickknack”… or “trash, long overdue”? Well, I don’t quite cross the silly border into “unprofessional” territory but if I did I wouldn’t care, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Who I am and what I care about makes me the person I am, and I’m pretty happy with this semi-unprofessional me. The pictures of my daughter are staying.
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:28 am
I’m honored to be classified a non professional by such a silly survey commissioned by Steelcase
I don’t know who authored this quote but here goes ” a neat desk is the sign of a sick mind ” According to that and applying it to my office I’m happy not to be classifed as having a “sick mind ”
Joe.