Studies have shown the impact that cluttered and unclean offices have on the cognitive functions and performance of workers, as well as the general impression of occupants and management on the part of facility guests, other workers, and prospective customers.
The Negative Impact of Messy Offices
Messy, unclean offices present several issues for schools, businesses, and healthcare facilities, including:
- Health concerns.
- Reduced cognitive function.
- Distraction, and;
- The lowered perception of occupants and management by visitors and prospective customers.
These issues lead to further challenges with worker and student output, productivity, and profit, as well as public image and prestige.
According to CleanLink;
When there are cues related to less cleanliness, order, organization, and more clutter in an owner's primary territory, perceivers ascribe lower conscientiousness to the owner, whether that owner is a worker in the real world (office), a job-seeker (apartment), a student (bedroom) or a researcher at a university (lab office), according to the researchers.
Of course, perception is not necessarily reality.
But the way a business is perceived can affect relationships or potential opportunities.
Unclean or Cluttered Offices Make you Appear Neurotic
Recently, researchers from the University of Michigan conducted a study consisting of several tests and involving 160 volunteers who were placed in an office that ranged in cleanliness from visibly tidy to cluttered and demonstrably unclean.
All other aspects of the office were controlled, including the decorations.
The participants were asked to guess the personality type of the occupant based solely on their impression of the office, without ever having met the person.
The results were simultaneously enlightening and disturbing.
In the neat office (office A), papers were neatly stacked on the desk, books and journals were upright on the bookshelves, file drawers had typewritten labels, and all garbage was in the wastebasket.
The "somewhat" messy office (office B in experiment 1) had books tilted over on the shelves, a textbook and papers lying on the floor, and a wall clock an hour off.
The "very" messy office (office B in experiments 2 and 3) appeared even dirtier, more disorganized and had increased clutter.
Participants tried to guess the researcher's personality based on the office's appearance--rating the person's extraversion (social), agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and openness to experience.
In each experiment, participants thought that the office B researcher (messy office) was less conscientious than the office A researcher (organized office).
In experiments 2 and 3, participants also thought that the office B researcher was less agreeable and more neurotic than the office A researcher.
The messier offices led to some participants thinking the owner possessed one or more negative personality traits.
Is your office messy? If so, you may be seen as uncaring, neurotic
When Impressions Become Reality
While the psychologists/researchers acknowledged that a person's impression is not reality, and the occupant in the messy office could just as readily be an easy-to-get-along-with genius, their perception can translate into their reality.
According to study co-author Sarah Dyszlewsk;
Once trait information about a target becomes activated in perceivers’ minds, either consciously or unconsciously, that information can subsequently affect how they process information about, the types of questions they ask of, and how they behave toward the target, possibly bringing out the very trait information that they expected to see from the target in the first place
Is your office messy? If so, you may be seen as uncaring, neurotic
Green Office Cleaning Tips
To prevent these types of negative perceptions leading to undesirable outcomes, we recommend the following:
- Implement or outsource a regular cleaning strategy that includes the removal of clutter and the organization of working areas.
- Use fragrance-free green cleaning products to eliminate harsh chemical odors that can add to a low-quality perception of the occupant or organization and decrease indoor air quality, leading to poor occupant performance.
- If possible, allow natural lighting and air flow into the office and combine with live plants and natural scenes to aid in the sense of calm and well-being for everyone.
References & Resources
Takeaway
In business, first impressions count.
Well + Good notes that first impressions can be powerful — even if a messy desk or office doesn’t actually mean that you're less agreeable or conscientious than your tidier colleague.
Basically, perception is not necessarily reality — in fact, it’s often the case that perception is just perception.
But there’s no doubt that the way others perceive you can affect relationships, or potential opportunities when it comes to your career.
Having A Messy Office Makes You Come Off As Neurotic, A New Study Shows
If you would like to learn more about the cost-effective benefits of outsourced janitorial services and how we can help make and leave a fabulous first impression for guests, customers, students, and prospective customers--contact us today for a free quote!
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