Dress your office for success
My back is a little sore, but it was worth it. This past weekend I set aside four hours and 
moved furniture, reorganized and cleaned out our little office in Kelowna. Here’s why this is so important.
Every couple of months I realize my office has become uninspiring. The day-to-day stuff we deal with has set up camp and it’s feeling cluttered, messy and uninviting. It still works – everything is there that I need – it just isn’t as inviting as I want.
The good news is that with a small effort everything improves – it feels like a new, creative space again. We aren’t looking at old magazines, banker boxes and rolled up flip chart paper. Furniture is moved to better locations and my desk is all mine again – the way it should be.
It sounds crazy, but your environment has a huge influence on your success. You feel better, sound better on the phone, think better and, yes, even sell better when you work in a space that makes you feel good.
It’s no different in other areas of your life.
- An expensive restaurant has to be elegant with top-class staff that compliment the $30 entrées – otherwise it seems over priced.
- Nice, well fitting clothes make you feel more successful and help you to present with more influence (old jeans and a turtleneck are for billionaires).
- Spend a couple of hours cleaning up your workbench at home and you’re happier to work on projects. Clean out a book self and the titles that remain seem more valuable.
When I step on stage to motivate an audience I need to feel successful – Dockers and a shirt from Sears won’t cut it. My environment includes the car I drive, my office and even the clothes I wear – it all has to be congruent with how I want to feel and what I want to project to my audience.
What about you? Maybe you also need to invest a few hours and step up your game.
About Hugh Culver
Hugh Culver co-created the world’s most expensive tours (to the South Pole), started five companies, and consults to Telus, Shoppers Drug Mart, Red Cross, and Bell. His keynotes, courses, and events teach and inspire leaders to do what matters, make a difference, and to fully show up. He is the author of Give Me a Break – the art of making time work for you.
See more from Hugh Culver
May 01, 2012 @ 16:58:29
Hugh, I mean this with the best possible intention. Spelling and grammar are an important part of presenting yourself.
Cheers,
Donna
May 02, 2012 @ 18:57:50
Excellent Hugh and I could not agree with you more. I just moved to a new office space and what a huge psychological difference. But it really took until I hung the pictures and brought in the plants a week later before it felt like a much more inspiring, and, as you put it, inspiring and creative space. I am actually keeping my desk free of clutter and, yes, I am more focussed on waht I have at hand!
;o)
Enjoyed your blog! Thanks
May 02, 2012 @ 21:11:23
Cool – thanks Dave. I can remember times when I would work in the same space year after year and totally discount what a clean up can do – no longer!