Did you know the state of your cubicle can say a lot about your personality? The way in which you organize – or don’t – can provide clues to your work style.
- If your cubicle is messy, with papers everywhere, inspirational quotes all over the cubicle walls, and cubicle extenders obviously added simply so you have more wall space to pin stuff to, you are probably a spirited personality who is great with the overall view, very positive, but not that detail oriented. Your advantage is that you can get others pumped up and ready to go!
- If your desk is covered with paperwork, but it’s organized in piles, and you have not one but two calendars to track business and personal appointments plus pictures of family as well as recognition of personal accomplishments such as diplomas or awards, you are probably a direct personality. You know exactly what you are capable of, expect others to measure up, and are great at organizing even though you may come off as a little bossy (you just want everything to be perfect!)
- If your cubicle is cluttered, but you know where everything is, your cubicle is decorated with an eye to comfort and serenity, and your family life is evident in photos and belongings, you are likely a considerate personality style. You are an excellent mediator, you like things to run without confrontation, and you feel that working relationships should be as important as personal ones.
- If your desk is tidy and clear of papers, with only what you are currently working on in view, you clean your desk every night, all of your files are organized to death and your cubicle walls feature charts and graphs and conversion tables, you are likely a systematic personality. You like specifics, and aren’t that amenable to being told to “go with it”, but given direct instructions you are the best person to make sure it is done precisely right.
For the best productivity, work together with all of the personality types on your office, splitting responsibilities to take advantage of your strengths. Your cubicles can all be a little more friendly with each other if you accept that everyone is different!
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