Appearances count. This is not only true with clothing and personal grooming but it is also true when it comes to offices. Whether you have a work station, a cubicle, an office with a door or the corner office on the top floor, you office speaks volumes about your background, your education, you priorities, your work ethic and your strengths. It may seem like these are stereotypes – and to a degree they are – but they are stereotypes based on over twenty-five years observing work environments across industries in the
Sales Person
Most sales people are either very successful or move on to another company. They travel light. They spend most of their time with customers. So those sale people who do have offices usually keep them very spare. A picture of the wife and kids. Some golf items. Maybe something related to a sports team. And that’s it. Not a lot of binders, books, reports or other business trappings. Their most important documents are the compensation plan and the latest quota report. The office is easy to pack up when they leave for a better offer or another city.
Creative Person
Creative people often have non-business related objects in their offices. Books including poetry and literature. A poster from an art gallery or show. A small abstract sculpture. Flowers in a contemporary vase. Creative people also have lots of professional magazines, journals and newspapers neatly stacked in the offices. Computer printouts, financial reports and technical manuals rarely if every are found in a creative person’s office. And do not forget the comfy sweater on the chair and the sneakers or slippers under the desk.
The Technologist
Most technologists fill every square inch of their work space with paper AND technology. Most people have one phone and one computer. Most technologists have multiple computers and related gadgets and stacks of office and cell phones plus their plugs and cords and accessories. When is comes to paper – they never throw away a report, binder, journal, article or memo. They may need it someday. Often they are in mounds overflowing the desktop and the shelves. Usually they are stacked on the floor too – not just under the desk but around all the walls too. An unusual poster or picture usually is taped on the wall or some other surface – such as a picture of Einstein or Star Trek or Monty Python. The PhD in EE diploma is framed and also stuck under the desk more often than not.
Number Cruncher
She may be in Finance or the Accounting Department or just may be the organizations budget person but every organization has their number cruncher. Her work area has one computer, one telephone and lots of accounting books and binders. Even though every single number and analysis is on the computer, she has a copy of every report and business plan by month, quarter and year five years back and five years forward in binders. Although the office has not pictures, art, sport memorabilia it does usually have a business card for an accounting company she will apply for a job with when she has time – right after the next close of books. The business card is next to the number for the local pizza delivery service for the late nights at work getting the numbers to agree.
People Person
The people person’s office is “warm and fuzzy” to the extreme. He has pictures of his family (even if he has no spouse or kids), drawings by the kids taped to all the surfaces and lots of little “toys” on the work surface such a stress balls and troll dolls. The people person has never turned on his computer. And he rarely uses the phone. He likes face-to-face communication. The office is full of professional journals and magazines. It is also full of literature and business cards from coaches, consultants and facilitators. While the people person may not have sports memorabilia in his office he will fill it with photos of every team building event from the past ten years.
The Warrior
The warrior most likely was never a Navy SEAL or a Marine or in the Special Forces. His office is filled with military history books. The walls have pictures of great military leaders of history and framed quotes by each of them. The only journals visible are “Soldier of Fortune” and “Strategy & Tactics”. The desk top is squared away – usually with an in and out basket and no more than one piece of paper on the desk at a time. Pens are in a mock artillery shell (security confiscated the real one – and the hand grenade “take a number” paper weight). A name plate is on the front of the desk – usually “Mr. XYZ, USN (or USMC or
The Up and Comer
You know the image. Good college. MBA from a name university. Hired on the “fast track” program. And the office – whether cubicle or real with a door – matches the diplomas on the wall. No photos of spouse or kids. No time for them – even if they do exist. Photos shaking hands with the Chairman or the President – usually signed too. Only a notebook computer and a phone on the desk. And the phone is not used – just the PDA/Cell Phone/Camera/Computer device which is always on the desk when not is use. A huge white board adorns the wall with notes on the latest strategic plan – even if the job has nothing to do with strategic planning. The only periodicals are the Wall Street Journal and the Harvard Business Review. The latter are neatly stacked and read cover to cover. The fine leather computer case is under the desk and ready for a trip to the coast or Europe or
Stereotypes? Yes and no. Be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of the competition or your customers or your people. Their offices tell you a lot more about them than you may think.
George F. Franks, III is the President of Franks Consulting Group - a Bethesda, Maryland based management consulting and leadership coaching practice. He is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants (USA) and the International Coach Federation. His web site is:
http://franksconsultinggroup.com
George can be e-mailed at gfranks@franksconsultinggroup.com
Also see his hot new e-zine at:
http://careerandleadership.com
