Workplace Messages

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Workplace Messages
Madeline Mercado Voelker
mmercado_at_mtu.edu Peter A. Larsen
palarsen_at_mtu.edu
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Does the use of space matter?
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Where would you rather attend a dinner party?
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Use of Space

• Community
• University
• Building
• Office

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Use of Space-Questions to Consider

• Who makes decisions about how each space is used?
• What is the importance of the decisions?
• Who is affected by these decisions?
• How do we balance private rights against public
  interests?

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Stereotyping What does your space say about you?

• Personality researcher Sam Gosling (University of
  Texas, Austin) studies the signals workplaces
  (and bedrooms) send about peopleand how accurate
  these signals are.
• Studies published in Psychology Today
• Available online http//homepage.psy.utexas.edu/h
  omepage/faculty/Gosling/reprints/JPSP02-Roomwithac
  ue.pdf

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Stereotyping What does your space say about you?

• The results?
• an observer who has briefly examined an
  individuals living or working environment will
  form impressions that are remarkably consistent
  with other observers impressions
• Furthermore, those impressions are often
  accurate.

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Lets play The office stereotyping game!
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Stereotyping Plants Foliage
Survey Says Well cared for plants indicate
someone who plans to stay.
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Stereotyping Post-it Notes
Survey Says Over-reliance on Post-it notes is a
sign of being overwhelmed.
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Stereotyping Whos Got the Time?
Survey Says Those who get it done are often
time-conscious. Clock lovers are often
meticulous and hard-working.
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Stereotyping Family Photos
Survey Says Interpretation is divided Some say
family photos are a status symbol, others say a
genuine reminder of loved ones. If displayed
toward guests status symbols. If displayed
toward office owner personal reasons.
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Stereotyping Candy Bowl
Survey Says Not only candyanything to lure
others to your workspace. An indication of an
extrovert.
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Stereotyping Motivational Plaques Posters
Survey Says This person is engaged in their job
and wants to stay engaged.
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Stereotyping Posters of Celebrities or
Historical Figures
Survey Says Indicates values and aspirations.
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Stereotyping Personalization
Survey Says Level of personalization indicates
and individuals level of security in their
environmentthey are comfortable enough to make
it their own.
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Stereotyping Empty Desk
Survey Says Barren workspaces indicate a worker
who has little status in the organization and who
probably isnt dedicated to his/her job.
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Stereotyping Tidiness
Survey Says Psychologists say this personality
trait is hard to change. A neat organized
workspace indicates a neat and organized person.
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Messages From Your Workplace

• What messages are received by others? Another
  study
• Poor housekeepers received lower ratings on
  measures of Agreeableness, Conscientiousness,
  Intelligence, and Femininity
• Poor housekeepers received higher ratings on
  measures of openness and Neuroticism.
• What message does your workspace send to you? How
  does it make you feel?

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Your Work Space

• 70-90 American workers personalize their
  workspaces
• Two Primary Issues to consider
• Productivity-does your space help or hinder your
  productivity? Be honest. Ask others to give you
  an objective opinion.
• First impressions-as the previous studies
  suggest, housekeeping is a cue utilized in
  environmental impression formation.

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A real-life example

• An email from a supervisor at the Natural
  Resource Group, in Minneapolis, MN
• "Rich, I noticed that there is a deer head in the
  office next to you. Is it yours? If not, do you
  know whose it is? If it is yours, I will need you
  to keep the light off in that office and close
  the door as we have auditors touring the offices
  today. Also, if it is yours, you will be taking
  it home with you tonight, correct?

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Michigan TechExamples(now is the time you
should start to get worriedwondering if we took
a picture of YOUR office)
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Examples from our campus
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More examples
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Examples, continued
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Do you want to change your space?
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5S Technique

• Sort / Seiri/ Housekeeping
• Eliminate unnecessary items from the workplace
• Set In Order/Seiton/ Workplace Organization
• Efficient and effective storage methods
• Shine / Seiso/ Cleanup
• Daily follow-up cleaning is necessary. Eliminate
  the clutter.
• Standardize/Seiketsu/Keep Clean
• Develop easy-to-follow stardards and develop a
  structure to support them
• Sustain/Shitsuke/Discipline
• This is by far the most difficult S to implement
  and achieve why? Human nature is to resist
  change.

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Practical Suggestions

• Find a Friend!
• Accountability breeds responsibility. Stephen
  R. Covey
• Plan a regular time. You dont do what you dont
  schedule.
• Be realistic. Use a timer. You can do just about
  anything for 15 minutes.
• Remember Everything got where it is because
  someone put it there. Change your daily patterns.
• Electronic Filing Reduce the clutter!

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Do you feel like you cant change?Would you
rather not change?
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Is a Messier Desk Better?
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• Even if you see yourself as a creative genius who
  thrives in a messy environment, chances are your
  co-workers and students dont see your area the
  same way!

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For more information

• How to Organize Your Desk
• http//www.bremercommunications.com/How_To_Organiz
  e_Your_Desk.htm
• 5-S
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5S
• A fun iVillage.com quiz
• http//quiz.ivillage.com/home/tests/workplacesez2.
  htm
• How to Organize Your Desk and Keep it Organized
• http//www.bremercommunications.com/How_To_Organiz
  e_Your_Desk.htm