Last week I walked into an office that looked like it belonged to a lifelong hoarder. Stacked boxes of papers were on the floor alongside plastic containers full of books, automotive equipment, clothing, and other miscellaneous items. What was not in boxes and containers were leaning towers of magazines and papers that took up every horizontal surface. After being offered a seat that they cleaned off for me, we proceeded to discuss what the business owner was looking for in regards to consulting.
As we talked, the owner of the business appeared rushed, disorganized, distracted, and stressed out as we sat there in the mist of office chaos. As someone who would potentially be working in this office, I have to admit I was concerned and more than a little afraid of what I would find in and under those towering piles!
Though it is unrealistic to strive for complete organization 100% of the time, there are benefits of having an organized office most of the time.
Most offices are not in such a huge state of disorganization as the one I entered that day, but fall somewhere in between immaculate and hoarder. Finding the comfortable state in which paperwork is easily located and having an approachable work area is important for you and for your clients. You and your business don’t want to appear sterile and unapproachable, but you also don’t want to have so much memorabilia and clutter around your office that you are hard pressed to find your computer keyboard and mouse.
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Morale
Organization is as important to your office as it is to being a successful business owner. Working in a clean and clutter free office encourages not only you, but your employees as well, to view their job in a more positive light than working in an office that has papers piled on every surface. A clean office has been proven to encourage employee’s morale, to take pride in their work, and to keep their desks organized and clutter free.
Professionalism
Not having a clean, organized office not only creates a lack of professionalism, but makes your client wonder about your abilities to complete their work. As the person I met with appeared distracted and stressed out, the impression was not a positive one as I watched them flip endlessly through various piles never finding what they were searching for. Keeping a clean organized space shows you have attention to detail and planning, whereas a messy desk and office gives a poor impression and a lack of pride in your business and your work. A messy office will have the potential to turn away a new client as messiness leaves a strong negative first impression of you and your business.
Safety
Having clean grounds around your office is as important as having a clean office area. Piles of dirt and debris around your building could cause an employee or customer to trip or get hurt, not to mention being a fire hazard. Thinking on a smaller scale, cleaning your computer keyboard and mouse as well as your desk where you sit each day will get rid of bacteria and mold that is the result of a spilled drink, crumbs from lunch, or germs from your last cold.
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Efficiency / Productivity
Working in a chaotic work environment can hinder your overall efficiency, productivity, and increase time in completing tasks as you are constantly searching for what you need. Try keeping your digital desk clean and organized as well as your physical desk space. Having lots of documents on your computer desktop slows down efficiency as quickly as an unorganized desk. Put your digital documents in clearly labeled folders either on your computer’s desktop or in a document folder. Imagine how impressed a client would be as you locate everything you are looking for quickly, easily, and without searching through piles of paper or layers of digital files when they are sitting next to you.
Put Clients At Ease
Potential clients who walk into your office and see cluttered desks and floors may wonder if you are reliable enough to handle their business. They may ask themselves, are you able to meet deadlines, get information to them in a timely manner, or even find their paperwork when they call? A clean, neat area where you can conduct business with a client makes them feel at ease and gives them a sense of reliability in you and your services.
Less Stress
Each day when entering your office space you raise your stress levels just by looking at a messy, cluttered work area. Why begin your day with stress? Clean away those piles of paper, use a filing system, and avoid having an office that appears in perpetual chaos. Your physical and mental health will thank you as well as your employees and clients you work with each day.
Have you found a great way to keep your office organized throughout your hectic day? Please share so others can benefit from your experience!
Hi, I’m Karen. Welcome to my website! I will show you how to establish the framework for an organized and successful leadership and office management system.
