A System to Declutter Your Office
A lot of people do not like to walk into an office which is cluttered, dusty and smells bad. First impressions are important and what better way to make a good impression by having an office which is speck and span. This organized office does not only benefit your visitors or clients but yourself as well. It is easy to locate items or documents if they are stored in a systematic manner. Having a neat office shows not only what kind of a person you are but also your habits in dealing with people.
First thing to do is to have a tidy office layout. Is there ample space between desks? Are desks or cubicles arranged in an orderly manner? Are the colors complimentary to each other? Is the furniture professional looking and clean? Is office equipment in the proper place? Is there a lounge or coffee corner with enough shelves for cups and other utensils?
Desks or cubicles must have the same height else they will not look good. Oversized desks will make your office look cramped and small. Office color schemes must be pleasant to the eyes. Earth tones are the best colors to have on walls and furniture. They will make your office look professional.
Filing cabinets can be lined up on the sides of the office floor especially if they are accessed by a several people. Shelves with referral books or logs can also be placed neatly on the sides. People who need to retrieve from the common filing cabinets and shelves should be sitting near so that they can move about without disturbing other people.
The copier, fax machine or even computer servers should be placed in their own space. This avoids wires, cables and papers to be seen. Also when maintenance is being made on this equipment, they will be hidden and will not get into the way of people.
Individual desks are areas that may be cluttered and not organized. The desk owner should see to it that documents and folders are placed neatly and labeled. Those folders or manila envelopes that are no longer needed should be stored in filing cabinets or inside a desk drawer.
Stacking trays are good organizational solutions. They save space and make the desk top appear neat. Pen and clip holders are also needed so that these items do no clutter the desk top. Desk owners should pay attention to what they place inside. They should keep this area tidy as well.
The company can have a “clear desk” policy which means that there should be no documents or any other item on top of the desk after office hours. This policy is now being followed by big companies not only for organizational purposes but also for security reasons. Confidential documents should be kept in a safe and secure place. The policy will remind employees to keep everything before going home.
The next step after de-cluttering the office is to maintain tidiness at all times. A good housekeeping and “clear desk” policy will surely help in the upkeep of your office.
