Management Voice Index
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This issue is devoted specifically to those of you who, like me, have not recently seen the surface of their desk and suspect that small furry creatures may have taken up residence. I usually write about indicators of good and bad performance, but today's message is:

A messy desk does NOT indicate poor performance!

Is a messy desk a bad thing?

Well no, though my colleagues who are particularly tidy can find it a strain to live with (those of you who have met my colleague Helen might like to know that she is a tidy desk person).

A messy desk has some benefits

Your peripheral vision registers work waiting to be done and this has been shown to drive subconscious thinking. If you put aside a piece of work that is proving a struggle, but keep it on the edge of your vision, your brain will continue to reflect on the issue while you deal with other matters. When you come back to it later, you will probably find it much easier.

A messy desk can be very comforting

I do not have to think hard about what to do – everything is there before me. Of course, people who like tidy desks find a messy desk very uncomfortable.

A messy desk reflects a mind that is capable of dealing with many things at once

It does not reflect a messy mind. If your messy desk reflects a mind map of the kind espoused by Tony Buzan (original author of mind maps), it probably reflects some very powerful thinking and working indeed.

A messy desk is not good when

• It depresses you so much that you stop working
• You really can't find anything (surprisingly rare actually)
• It overflows onto other people's desks
• It really upsets your boss

Dealing with it

Periodically even the most dedicated messy desk person has to tidy up. I find it extraordinarily difficult and need help.

Here are some tips that help me:

• 5 boxes labelled: do today, do this week, waiting further information, file, shred/recycle
• Someone to sit beside me and keep me focused on dealing with the mess, not the often interesting contents of the pieces of paper. It helps if this person is of the ‘tidy desk' type as they can be useful in encouraging decisions about which box to put the paper in
• NO comments from others, sarcastic or humorous
• Practical encouragement such as tea/ coffee/ biscuits
• Don't let me get up and walk away until its done!

The 5 boxes may end up under or on the desk, but at least there is no more mess for a while!

Managing a messy desk person

If you are a tidy desk person and you have some messy desk people in your team, rest assured it is not a cause for concern. Just make sure the mess has not gone from being a style of working to a hindrance for the individual. Help out occasionally using the tips given above.

This issue has caused much hilarity in the office, particularly as I have the messiest desk – but I stand by it. A messy desk is not an indicator of performance!

Management Voice Index
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