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