| I followed my boss to a co-worker's cubicle | | | | - Things to take care of now |
| where my boss requested a certain document | | | | - Things you will deal with later |
| from the co-worker. The actual surface of the | | | | - Things to file away for reference |
| co-workers desk was not visible because it was | | | | Then utilize the following organizing tools: |
| covered with a cluttered pile of papers, catalogs, | | | | - notebooks |
| booklets, and other paraphernalia. I was prepared | | | | - file folders |
| to see my co-worker embarass himself by not | | | | - boxes |
| being able to locate the requested document in | | | | - drawers |
| that messy pile. | | | | - cabinets |
| Some people mistakenly think having a cluttered | | | | - briefcase |
| desk will trick their boss into thinking they are | | | | Use these organizing tools to create a place for |
| keeping busy. Instead, a cluttered desk makes | | | | every item on your desk. Everything should have |
| your boss think the following: | | | | a place, and everything should be in its place. Your |
| - You are disorganized | | | | desktop is the place for only one thing, the one |
| - You are a procastinator | | | | thing you are working on this instant. The most |
| - you have poor time management skills | | | | important organizing tool is the one listed below: |
| - you have low productivity | | | | - trash can |
| - You have lost control | | | | Some people hang on to things forever because |
| My co-worker pushed his hand down into that | | | | they think they may need it at some time in the |
| cluttered mess and, to my amazement, instantly | | | | future. Study the item you are hanging on to. |
| produced the requested document. Apparently | | | | What are the odds that you will need it some |
| this guy had a mental map of the location of | | | | time in the future? None to zero? In the slim |
| every item in the seemly disorganized pile on his | | | | chance that you do need it in the future, is there |
| desk. Maybe we misjudge people that keep a | | | | some other source for it? |
| cluttered desk. | | | | Some people keep things related to active |
| People think that a worker with a messy desk | | | | assignments on their desk so they won't forget |
| does messy work. Misjudgment or not, if you | | | | about what needs to be done. Instead, keep a |
| have a messy desk, your boss might not want to | | | | prioritized task list. A prioritized task list is great |
| risk giving you an important assignment. You will | | | | for workers who constantly get interrupted. If |
| get only low profile, boring grunt jobs. Fair or not, | | | | the interruption is your boss, show them your |
| that's the way it is. | | | | prioritized task list and ask where the new |
| Things that clutter a desk: | | | | assignment fits in. If the interruption is not your |
| - Pictures of family, pets, etc. | | | | boss, show them your prioritized task list and tell |
| - Trinkets, plants, figurines, signs | | | | them you'll check with your boss as to where |
| - Food, cups, bowls, silverware, wrappers, crumbs | | | | their chore fits into list. |
| I'm not saying that you can't have any personal | | | | The reality is that some people are never going |
| items on your desk. Displaying a family | | | | to get organized. They believe that any other |
| photograph gives the impression of a stable, | | | | activity has a higher priority than organizing. The |
| reliable individual, but too many photograph's on | | | | story about my co-worker indicates that being |
| your desk sends the message that you would | | | | disorganized is not a reliable indicator of a deficient |
| rather be somewhere else. A plant on your desk | | | | employee. But if you have a cluttered desk, that's |
| can make your cubicle seem less harsh, but too | | | | how you will be perceived. If you can't use the |
| many plants makes people think that your hobby | | | | tools described above (boxes, drawers, cabinates, |
| is taking over your cubicle. | | | | etc.) to organize your cluttered desk, then at |
| Yes, it requires a little extra time and work up | | | | least use them to hide the clutter. |
| front to get organized, but in the long run, you'll | | | | Copyright(C) 2004 Bucaro TecHelp. |
| make up that time. After you get organized, you'll | | | | Permission is granted for the below article to |
| work less to be more productive, and your work | | | | forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, |
| will much less stressful. One way to keep your | | | | newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part |
| desk neat is to block off 30 minutes each | | | | of a product for sale as long as no changes are |
| morning to organize your desk. Divide things into | | | | made and the byline, copyright, and the resource |
| three categories: | | | | box below is included. |