The last few days we’ve been talking about clutter and the differences in what each of us sees and why it matters. The focus has been primarily around clutter at home. What happens when we bring the concept to our work?
Work clutter may be less visible these days for many reasons. Some are still working remote. Some offices have moved to a hoteling model where a person doesn’t have an assigned desk. Some don’t generate physical/visible evidence of their work and do everything online. Just because these situations hide clutter doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
My Perspective – Types of Work Clutter
To consider what clutter looks like at work, let’s revisit the four dimensions of clutter and think about how our work could be impacted by each.
Messy vs. Tidy
Remember that this one is very subjective. What looks messy to one person may not be messy to another. Unless you have an office space at work with physical printouts and other work materials, this dimension might be invisible. The impact on others on the team could be minimal or absent.
While there are benefits to the invisibility, for those who are typically tidy, messiness that can be causing stress is hidden behind the screen. Calendars that are out of control, unanswered emails, files that are hard to locate, and more.
Organized vs. Haphazard
This dimension shows up at work as both an individual and a team quality. Project plans, timelines, and meeting deadlines are signs of an organized team member and team. Yet, there are many occasions where the adaptability and ability to handle ambiguity of a haphazard team are appreciated and needed by the organization. Leaning to either end of this spectrum can be a challenge.
Pilers vs. Filers
In a world that moves more and more toward digital, the pilers are at a disadvantage. When files and to do lists are tucked away inside the computer, they aren’t visible around the workspace.
My theory is that you can tell who falls on which side of this spectrum by asking the question “How do find a file on your computer – go to the project folder or use the search function? If you use folders, you are likely a filer while if you use the search function you are more likely a piler.
Abundance vs. Simplicity
Abundance lovers are likely the ones who save every version of a presentation “just in case” they might need it in the future. Simplicity lovers have less email and likely strive for in-box zero.
Your Turn
How do these dimensions show up for you at work?
Do you see yourself as the same “type” both at home and at work or are you different in the to dimensions of your life?