According to the blog straightfromthedoc.com concern for the decor of waiting rooms is being exercised at least at one place in Detroit. This is reminiscent of some of the offices I have seen that so desparately need a good decor overhaul.
"Waiting rooms are becoming more posh these days:
In the hustle to attract patients, Metro Detroit medical centers are working to strip away the cold, impersonal feel that characterizes so many waiting areas, doctor's offices and exam rooms. It's one way hospitals are working to bring in more money from paying patients, who are as likely to pick a hospital for its reputation as for its location.
Uncomfortable seating, drawn-out waits and a dismal atmosphere are out; designer decor, luxury hotel-like service and museum-worthy art displays are in.
Comfort features are being added as the area's major health systems undergo multimillion-dollar expansions and renovations. Most upgrades are incorporated into work already under way. Many of the perks, such as artwork and fancy waiting areas, are paid for through donations, not hospital budgets."
(Terlep, "Hospital waiting room or living room?", The Detroit News, Aug.8)
Maybe sometime soon the waiting rooms in other places near where I live will get the hint!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Full Wall Mural
A full wall mural on your office wall? I must say that for all the offices that I've seen, I cannot actually imagine what a full wall mural would do for the attractiveness or efficiency of a real office.
In an article that appeared in Auto and Trucks (first hint - but who would have thought a full wall mural on the side of a van would work!) called Office Decorating Ideas by Denyce Rusch, the author advocates choosing a mural that reflects your own interests. He describes it as follows:
"For a person working at a conservative company, with an interest in travel, imagine an office with a world map mural on the wall. Hung from the appropriate location on the mural are small framed photographs of the employee's travels. On the bookshelves are items purchased during his/her world travels. There are several plants arranged in a group, each in a vase purchased at a different travel destination. This employee has succeeded in decorating the office to suit his/her personality while keeping within the conservative framework of his company.
This same person, working at an innovative company, could choose a full wall mural that consists of a backdrop of his/her favorite destination, perhaps a tropical beach. Décor would consist, in part, of family photos at beach destinations. Groups of tropical plants in vases covered in shells collected at various beach destinations would be grouped in various areas throughout the office. Window coverings would be constructed from a tropical print fabric – or even beach towels. Bookshelves, again, would contain tropical items purchased at various destinations. As in the case above, the employee has succeeded in decorating the office to suit his/her personality, with the added joy of feeling as if one is truly in the tropics!"
So what do you think of this idea? Good? Inappropriate?
Sponsored By SuccessImage Hardwood Desk Top Trays. - Solid hardwood letter and legal size trays in a variety of styles and hardwood types.
In an article that appeared in Auto and Trucks (first hint - but who would have thought a full wall mural on the side of a van would work!) called Office Decorating Ideas by Denyce Rusch, the author advocates choosing a mural that reflects your own interests. He describes it as follows:
"For a person working at a conservative company, with an interest in travel, imagine an office with a world map mural on the wall. Hung from the appropriate location on the mural are small framed photographs of the employee's travels. On the bookshelves are items purchased during his/her world travels. There are several plants arranged in a group, each in a vase purchased at a different travel destination. This employee has succeeded in decorating the office to suit his/her personality while keeping within the conservative framework of his company.
This same person, working at an innovative company, could choose a full wall mural that consists of a backdrop of his/her favorite destination, perhaps a tropical beach. Décor would consist, in part, of family photos at beach destinations. Groups of tropical plants in vases covered in shells collected at various beach destinations would be grouped in various areas throughout the office. Window coverings would be constructed from a tropical print fabric – or even beach towels. Bookshelves, again, would contain tropical items purchased at various destinations. As in the case above, the employee has succeeded in decorating the office to suit his/her personality, with the added joy of feeling as if one is truly in the tropics!"
So what do you think of this idea? Good? Inappropriate?
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Brightening up office decor
Well, there is always another side to everything. Apparently the beauty / skin-deep cliche is applicable to office decor as well, as demonstrated by a somewhat dated article in an older issue of American Machinist. The more recent article quoted the 1904 article and was titled "Brightening up office decor". I'm not sure how the editors back then stayed out of hot water based on this rendition.
"The March 16, 1904, issue detailed an 'alleged new and wonderful invention which will take dictation and automatically write out the matter which has been dictated.' The editors were concerned that the device would do away with a particular type of stenographer and typist.
'This machine is to do way with the 'pretty' stenographer, and this we consider to be an especial grievance,' they wrote. 'We should not feel so bad about it if it would do away with the homely stenographer only, but if it is to do away with the pretty stenographer it will deprive many business offices of what is at present their only attractive feature.'"
Is this calling a spade a spade, or is it the reason political correctness came about? :-)
Sponsored By SuccessImage Desk Pads for Office or Board room. - Protect your valuable desk or board room table with a smooth, comfortable, elegant desk pad designed for comfortable writing. Complete with genuine hardwood accents.
"The March 16, 1904, issue detailed an 'alleged new and wonderful invention which will take dictation and automatically write out the matter which has been dictated.' The editors were concerned that the device would do away with a particular type of stenographer and typist.
'This machine is to do way with the 'pretty' stenographer, and this we consider to be an especial grievance,' they wrote. 'We should not feel so bad about it if it would do away with the homely stenographer only, but if it is to do away with the pretty stenographer it will deprive many business offices of what is at present their only attractive feature.'"
Is this calling a spade a spade, or is it the reason political correctness came about? :-)
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Wear your office on your sleeve
In her article "Decorating Your Office", Karin Eldor makes mention of another part of your office decor we never thought about - your clothes. Gives us something to think about:
"Think of your office as the clothes you wear to work -- you want your office décor to project a certain corporate image, in line with the image of your company as a whole. So if you're a lawyer or an accountant, your office should reflect a certain level of professionalism (lawyers' offices are usually furnished with dark, rich wood such as mahogany), whereas if you work for a multimedia, graphic design or advertising firm, your office is expected to reflect a more artistic, funky style."
Sounds like an interesting discussion, but unfortunately, she continues on with her discussion on furniture...
"Whether you're a freelancer with a home office or a downtown account manager, here are ways to decorate your workspace; remember, you do spend at least 40 hours a week there; make them enjoyable."
Sponsored By SuccessImage Chair Mats in Hardwood Laminates - Protect carpet and hardwood floors while enjoying a smooth, comfortable surface for your chair. Finest chair mats in the world made from an ultra-tough laminate to resist impacts, scratches, wear, burns and stains. Elegant wood finishes. Fully guaranteed.
"Think of your office as the clothes you wear to work -- you want your office décor to project a certain corporate image, in line with the image of your company as a whole. So if you're a lawyer or an accountant, your office should reflect a certain level of professionalism (lawyers' offices are usually furnished with dark, rich wood such as mahogany), whereas if you work for a multimedia, graphic design or advertising firm, your office is expected to reflect a more artistic, funky style."
Sounds like an interesting discussion, but unfortunately, she continues on with her discussion on furniture...
"Whether you're a freelancer with a home office or a downtown account manager, here are ways to decorate your workspace; remember, you do spend at least 40 hours a week there; make them enjoyable."
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Decoding Your Office Decor - Personalities (Part 2)
(Continued from previous post)
In an article posted in AOL small business from Entrepreneur.com, Sarah Pierce looks at office decor and personality. In a previous post, she covered the types of personality evidence that we all leave behind, and in this post she links those to five primary personality types.
"So what's your office saying about you? Depending on your personality, here are some of the more common things Gosling says may be found in your office that define which of the Big Five personalities you have:
Open to new experience. These are the easiest traits to detect. Someone who's open will have things that indicate a broad range of values and interests, such as a wide variety of books; icons and objects that suggest travel to new places and an interest in other cultures; or even a collection of CDs indicating wide-ranging musical tastes. These offices are always very distinctive and often contain unusual or stylish décor.]
Conscientious. This is the next-easiest personality type to identify. A conscientious person's office has signs that they're efficient and self-disciplined, that they focus on work, and that they think before they act. This person has a clean, neat desk; their books are arranged in order, maybe by height or alphabetically; their pencils are sharp; and their calendar is filled in. They also tend to have appealing, professional-looking spaces; however, they don't always make particularly good use of their space.
Extroverted. These offices come across as very inviting because they tend to be crafted to try and foster interaction. A person who's extraverted may have a variety of magazines lying around or a bowl of candy sitting on the edge of their desk. Their offices also tend to be colorfully decorated and 'full.' If their office is large enough, they may have a comfortable sofa and arrange their space so it feels roomy and there's no barriers between the desk and the people who come in. (Introverts, on the other hand, will steer clear of anything that encourages interaction with their co-workers.)
Agreeable. This is a hard personality trait to determine, but someone who's agreeable will generally have clues of sentimentality, such as a pebble from the beach where they had their first kiss or a postcard from an old friend hanging on the wall. These are all self-directed identity claims and thought-and-feeling regulators designed to remind the office owner of loved ones and happy memories. These offices also tend to be inviting and have a wide variety of magazines or CDs displayed.
Emotional stability. Gosling warns that this is the most difficult trait to identify: The study found there was no standard way to identify a person's mental well-being. An office that's decorated, comfortable and formal will usually indicate an emotionally stable person, however.
Other personality clues Gosling says you may be giving your co-workers include:
Family photos. Displaying pictures of your family shows others what you value in life. Where are the photos facing? If they're facing toward you, that suggests more of a thought-and-feeling regulator that indicates you're probably agreeable. If they're facing outward, you're probably more extroverted because you're telling other people what's important to you, or even using the photos as a status symbol.
Plants. An office that contains plants suggests you're trying to create an agreeable environment for yourself and others. It's also a behavioral residue, indicating you plan to stick around for awhile.
Calendars and clocks. A person who has an orderly, filled-in calendar is organized and ready to work. Having a visible clock also shows you're meticulous and hardworking."
(Note: If you want to learn more about Gosling's research, including what your Web site says about you, visit his Web site to read additional findings.)
In an article posted in AOL small business from Entrepreneur.com, Sarah Pierce looks at office decor and personality. In a previous post, she covered the types of personality evidence that we all leave behind, and in this post she links those to five primary personality types.
"So what's your office saying about you? Depending on your personality, here are some of the more common things Gosling says may be found in your office that define which of the Big Five personalities you have:
Open to new experience. These are the easiest traits to detect. Someone who's open will have things that indicate a broad range of values and interests, such as a wide variety of books; icons and objects that suggest travel to new places and an interest in other cultures; or even a collection of CDs indicating wide-ranging musical tastes. These offices are always very distinctive and often contain unusual or stylish décor.]
Conscientious. This is the next-easiest personality type to identify. A conscientious person's office has signs that they're efficient and self-disciplined, that they focus on work, and that they think before they act. This person has a clean, neat desk; their books are arranged in order, maybe by height or alphabetically; their pencils are sharp; and their calendar is filled in. They also tend to have appealing, professional-looking spaces; however, they don't always make particularly good use of their space.
Extroverted. These offices come across as very inviting because they tend to be crafted to try and foster interaction. A person who's extraverted may have a variety of magazines lying around or a bowl of candy sitting on the edge of their desk. Their offices also tend to be colorfully decorated and 'full.' If their office is large enough, they may have a comfortable sofa and arrange their space so it feels roomy and there's no barriers between the desk and the people who come in. (Introverts, on the other hand, will steer clear of anything that encourages interaction with their co-workers.)
Agreeable. This is a hard personality trait to determine, but someone who's agreeable will generally have clues of sentimentality, such as a pebble from the beach where they had their first kiss or a postcard from an old friend hanging on the wall. These are all self-directed identity claims and thought-and-feeling regulators designed to remind the office owner of loved ones and happy memories. These offices also tend to be inviting and have a wide variety of magazines or CDs displayed.
Emotional stability. Gosling warns that this is the most difficult trait to identify: The study found there was no standard way to identify a person's mental well-being. An office that's decorated, comfortable and formal will usually indicate an emotionally stable person, however.
Other personality clues Gosling says you may be giving your co-workers include:
Family photos. Displaying pictures of your family shows others what you value in life. Where are the photos facing? If they're facing toward you, that suggests more of a thought-and-feeling regulator that indicates you're probably agreeable. If they're facing outward, you're probably more extroverted because you're telling other people what's important to you, or even using the photos as a status symbol.
Plants. An office that contains plants suggests you're trying to create an agreeable environment for yourself and others. It's also a behavioral residue, indicating you plan to stick around for awhile.
Calendars and clocks. A person who has an orderly, filled-in calendar is organized and ready to work. Having a visible clock also shows you're meticulous and hardworking."
(Note: If you want to learn more about Gosling's research, including what your Web site says about you, visit his Web site to read additional findings.)
Decoding Your Office Decor
In an article posted in AOL small business from Entrepreneur.com, Sarah Pierce made a very insightfull analysis of our office space and what personality evidence that we reveal with it. In the first part, she looks at the 3 main reasons we leave all these indicators behind. Below is her explanation and in the next post, we'll look at her conclusions and which of the "big 5" personalities the traits disclose.
"Look around your office. Are there Post-It notes plastered to your computer? Are the books on your bookshelf alphabetized? What about your picture frames--are they facing toward you or away from you? Whether you intend to or not, your office is filled with clues about what type of person you are. And like it or not, your employees are making judgments about you based on those clues.
A recent study (PDF) published in Psychology Today identified the common clues we leave behind and which of the 'Big Five' personality traits are associated with them: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and emotional stability. These clues, according to Sam Gosling, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at the University of Texas who helped conduct the study, 'are the ways we construct our environment to try and affect how we think and how we feel.'
To better understand what sort of personality evidence you're leaving behind, Gosling explains the three main reasons we leave these clues behind:
1. Identity claims. These are the most obvious clues into a person's personality because they're deliberate statements a person makes. For example, having a poster of Adolph Hitler on the wall gives others an immediate idea of the attitude and values you have. Where these identity claims are found also indicates what kind of person you are. If you place a poster on the outside of your door, you're clearly making a statement about yourself that's intended for others to see. However, a self-directed identity claim, such as a picture of your parents facing toward you or a poster on the inside of your door, is more symbolic and meant to reinforce a sense of who you are that others won't immediately recognize.
2. Thought-and-feeling regulators. These elements help us deliberately construct our environment but in a way that affects how we think and feel. So if your office is clear of clutter and you have music playing, you're most likely trying to create a space where you can concentrate. Other ways you try to construct a certain mood is by having plants around or displaying special mementos.
3. Behavioral residue. These are the unconscious clues you leave behind and are the most difficult to judge someone by. For example, an unorganized desk doesn't mean you're deliberately trying to tell others you're messy; it just means you don't put stuff back when you're done. If you have Post-It notes stuck everywhere, it's an unintended consequence of feeling overwhelmed. Behavioral residue also includes evidence of things you've done outside the office or intend to do, such as a ticket stub laying around or a pair of running shoes sitting in the corner. These all help co-workers develop a sense of who you are by indicating what your interests are."
"Look around your office. Are there Post-It notes plastered to your computer? Are the books on your bookshelf alphabetized? What about your picture frames--are they facing toward you or away from you? Whether you intend to or not, your office is filled with clues about what type of person you are. And like it or not, your employees are making judgments about you based on those clues.
A recent study (PDF) published in Psychology Today identified the common clues we leave behind and which of the 'Big Five' personality traits are associated with them: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and emotional stability. These clues, according to Sam Gosling, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology at the University of Texas who helped conduct the study, 'are the ways we construct our environment to try and affect how we think and how we feel.'
To better understand what sort of personality evidence you're leaving behind, Gosling explains the three main reasons we leave these clues behind:
1. Identity claims. These are the most obvious clues into a person's personality because they're deliberate statements a person makes. For example, having a poster of Adolph Hitler on the wall gives others an immediate idea of the attitude and values you have. Where these identity claims are found also indicates what kind of person you are. If you place a poster on the outside of your door, you're clearly making a statement about yourself that's intended for others to see. However, a self-directed identity claim, such as a picture of your parents facing toward you or a poster on the inside of your door, is more symbolic and meant to reinforce a sense of who you are that others won't immediately recognize.
2. Thought-and-feeling regulators. These elements help us deliberately construct our environment but in a way that affects how we think and feel. So if your office is clear of clutter and you have music playing, you're most likely trying to create a space where you can concentrate. Other ways you try to construct a certain mood is by having plants around or displaying special mementos.
3. Behavioral residue. These are the unconscious clues you leave behind and are the most difficult to judge someone by. For example, an unorganized desk doesn't mean you're deliberately trying to tell others you're messy; it just means you don't put stuff back when you're done. If you have Post-It notes stuck everywhere, it's an unintended consequence of feeling overwhelmed. Behavioral residue also includes evidence of things you've done outside the office or intend to do, such as a ticket stub laying around or a pair of running shoes sitting in the corner. These all help co-workers develop a sense of who you are by indicating what your interests are."
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Home Office Crick Preventer
According to an article in iVillage (Home Office Must-Have Supplies), one of the must have items for a home office is a cordless headset phone.
"'The two things I did splurge on were an executive chair and a cordless headset phone. I've only had the phone for a few months, but I can't believe I didn't buy it sooner. I do spend a lot of time on the phone, and not having that awful crick in my neck has definitely been worth the investment -- about $89 at Staples. I recommended it to everyone, whether for business or home. "
Now I agree with them that a cordless headset would be fabulous. But I have a small PBX telephone system that has multiple lines. These $89 headsets phones are all designed for single lines, two lines at best. To get something even remotely similar for these low end commercial phone systems seems to be either impossible or very pricey. But meanwhile, I have my array of telephone, cell phone charger, PDA charger and docking station, clock, camera docking station and cell phone blue tooth charger all lined up around the perimeter of my desk pad while I keep looking and hoping I can add another device and eliminate that crick.
"'The two things I did splurge on were an executive chair and a cordless headset phone. I've only had the phone for a few months, but I can't believe I didn't buy it sooner. I do spend a lot of time on the phone, and not having that awful crick in my neck has definitely been worth the investment -- about $89 at Staples. I recommended it to everyone, whether for business or home. "
Now I agree with them that a cordless headset would be fabulous. But I have a small PBX telephone system that has multiple lines. These $89 headsets phones are all designed for single lines, two lines at best. To get something even remotely similar for these low end commercial phone systems seems to be either impossible or very pricey. But meanwhile, I have my array of telephone, cell phone charger, PDA charger and docking station, clock, camera docking station and cell phone blue tooth charger all lined up around the perimeter of my desk pad while I keep looking and hoping I can add another device and eliminate that crick.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Setting Up A Workable Home Office
In an article How to Set Up a Workable Home Office, Coral Nafie discusses the top needs and solutions for a great home office. Of these, I found two to be most interesting:
"Plan Your Work Area.
Think of all the things that you'll need to work comfortably and efficiently in your home office. Start with proper temperature control and lighting. Have a telephone installed in the space or be sure to have a portable phone available. Your desk chair will be moving around in the space, so flooring should be a hard surface, at least near the desk. Select window coverings (if you're fortunate to have a window nearby) that will allow you to control the light in your area."
Both temperature and lighting are often overlooked, but fortunately are simply fixed with use of task lighting and either ceiling fans or portable ceramic heaters that are available (depending of course on the lack or excess of heat!). Floor surfaces can be adapted to rolling chair use thorugh the use of a good quality chair mat.
She then goes on with another good point:
"A Place to Write.
Probably the most important piece of furniture you'll have will be your desk or work surface. Whether you select custom-designed cabinets and writing surface or use two file cabinets with a door stretched across them, this is where you'll spend the most time, and it should be large enough and the right height to most comfortably do your work. If your space is limited, draw out a floor plan on graph paper and move the shapes around until you find a workable space."
This is a key point in that the surface you utilize will have to allow multi-duties including writing, "mousing", cutting, keyboarding and many other activities related to your activities. Just as the use of a mouse can be improved with a mouse pad, writing and a number of other activities can be improved with a desk pad. In fact, a good desk pad can even do excellent duty as a mouse pad as well!
"Plan Your Work Area.
Think of all the things that you'll need to work comfortably and efficiently in your home office. Start with proper temperature control and lighting. Have a telephone installed in the space or be sure to have a portable phone available. Your desk chair will be moving around in the space, so flooring should be a hard surface, at least near the desk. Select window coverings (if you're fortunate to have a window nearby) that will allow you to control the light in your area."
Both temperature and lighting are often overlooked, but fortunately are simply fixed with use of task lighting and either ceiling fans or portable ceramic heaters that are available (depending of course on the lack or excess of heat!). Floor surfaces can be adapted to rolling chair use thorugh the use of a good quality chair mat.
She then goes on with another good point:
"A Place to Write.
Probably the most important piece of furniture you'll have will be your desk or work surface. Whether you select custom-designed cabinets and writing surface or use two file cabinets with a door stretched across them, this is where you'll spend the most time, and it should be large enough and the right height to most comfortably do your work. If your space is limited, draw out a floor plan on graph paper and move the shapes around until you find a workable space."
This is a key point in that the surface you utilize will have to allow multi-duties including writing, "mousing", cutting, keyboarding and many other activities related to your activities. Just as the use of a mouse can be improved with a mouse pad, writing and a number of other activities can be improved with a desk pad. In fact, a good desk pad can even do excellent duty as a mouse pad as well!
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Home Office Revolution?
According to research analysis firm IDC, "Almost one in three households in America have some kind of home office." These home offices, according to senior research analyst Merle Sandler, cover everything from full-time telecommuters to part-time self-employed people and range in form from professionally decorated separate rooms to a corner of a kitchen table.
A reported 33.1 million 'home office households' in the U.S. certainly proves this is more than just a trend. And while this number does not appear to be rapidly growing, the functions performed in them is apparently growing quickly as owners are doing more with them.
Designer Mark McCauley notes that "home offices are a haven for both husband and wife, with many families creating home offices for each adult in the household." This allows each to adorn their spaces with personal items and decor that reflect their personal style and allow a feeling of comfort that makes work a pleasure.
A reported 33.1 million 'home office households' in the U.S. certainly proves this is more than just a trend. And while this number does not appear to be rapidly growing, the functions performed in them is apparently growing quickly as owners are doing more with them.
Designer Mark McCauley notes that "home offices are a haven for both husband and wife, with many families creating home offices for each adult in the household." This allows each to adorn their spaces with personal items and decor that reflect their personal style and allow a feeling of comfort that makes work a pleasure.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
The Natural Look in Office Decor
Another element to creating an office environment that is friendly, professional and even pleasurable is natural foliage. This can take the form of smaller flowering plants, larger plants and even full fledged trees.
Although some of us are blessed with "green thumbs" and have no problems keeping live plants healthy and thriving, the rest of us can achieve similar results by "cheating" with artifical plants and trees. These are available in a wide variety of materials including silk, plastic and other natural materials.
The advantages of plants and trees, whether real or otherwise, are many. But the most beneficial advantage is helping to disolve the stresses and pressures of everyday life at the office. And the inclusion of natures colors into the office space gives a welcome contrast to most office interiors.
For larger plants and trees, the container used to house the root system of the plant can also contribute to the welcoming nature of an office interior. Rather than a typical plastic "pot" container, consider placing the plant, into a dressier container that matches your office decor. The waste baskets trimmed with hardwood from successimage.com are ideal for this function due to the interior steel or plastic liners. There are a number of sizes to choose from and the solid nature of the waste baskets help in stabilizing the plant, protecting it from traffic and everyday busy office routines.
Although some of us are blessed with "green thumbs" and have no problems keeping live plants healthy and thriving, the rest of us can achieve similar results by "cheating" with artifical plants and trees. These are available in a wide variety of materials including silk, plastic and other natural materials.
The advantages of plants and trees, whether real or otherwise, are many. But the most beneficial advantage is helping to disolve the stresses and pressures of everyday life at the office. And the inclusion of natures colors into the office space gives a welcome contrast to most office interiors.
For larger plants and trees, the container used to house the root system of the plant can also contribute to the welcoming nature of an office interior. Rather than a typical plastic "pot" container, consider placing the plant, into a dressier container that matches your office decor. The waste baskets trimmed with hardwood from successimage.com are ideal for this function due to the interior steel or plastic liners. There are a number of sizes to choose from and the solid nature of the waste baskets help in stabilizing the plant, protecting it from traffic and everyday busy office routines.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Add Class to Your Office Decor with an Art Reproduction
Often we consider our office decor to be dictated by the furniture and the colors of the paint work. But there is another way to boost the "class" of your office space without full blown redecorating. In the article "Add Class to Your Office Decor with an Art Reproduction" David DeGroot shows us how to do this inexpensively.
"Office decor doesn't have to be boring, or even all businesslike. You can spruce up your office walls with elegant oil paintings even if you're on a tight budget. Art reproductions are beautiful works of art that are hand-painted by talented artists to capture the true colors and meanings of famous paintings from the past. With the low cost of art reproductions, anyone can decorate their office using famous paintings."
He then goes on to say:
"Decorating your office with art reproductions will give it the look and feel of a high-class work environment. Your clients and business associates will assume you spent a fortune decorating your office when you really didn't. Art reproductions make this possible because they usually cost so little while their original counterparts might cost thousands of dollars. This enables you to have a professional office decor while also saving money."
It goes without saying of course that utilizing his suggestions along with desk accessories from successimage.com can boost the look and feel with very little work!
"Office decor doesn't have to be boring, or even all businesslike. You can spruce up your office walls with elegant oil paintings even if you're on a tight budget. Art reproductions are beautiful works of art that are hand-painted by talented artists to capture the true colors and meanings of famous paintings from the past. With the low cost of art reproductions, anyone can decorate their office using famous paintings."
He then goes on to say:
"Decorating your office with art reproductions will give it the look and feel of a high-class work environment. Your clients and business associates will assume you spent a fortune decorating your office when you really didn't. Art reproductions make this possible because they usually cost so little while their original counterparts might cost thousands of dollars. This enables you to have a professional office decor while also saving money."
It goes without saying of course that utilizing his suggestions along with desk accessories from successimage.com can boost the look and feel with very little work!
Saturday, November 18, 2006
What your office says cont'd...
In the previous post, a psycology professor gave us a hint of what your office says about you. We continue his analysis in this post and conclude that the overall theme of the space is what is most important.
In "What your office says about you" the article continues:
"Whether you work at a mom-and-pop operation or at a major firm like JPMorgan Chase (nyse: JPM - news - people ), Advanced Micro Devices (nyse: AMD - news - people ) or Cisco (nasdaq: CSCO - news - people ), you don't have to be named Sigmund to figure out what you're supposed to make of a degree from a big name university hung at eye level for all to see when walking into an office: I'm smart! Never mind that the truly brainy don't feel compelled to advertise the name of their old school. This malady afflicts many run-of-the-mill politicians who always let you know they went to a fancy school and often seem to be saying that the rest of us should shut up and listen to our betters.
'A lawyer with cases and cases of law books, scientists with rows of journals or English professors with all the classics are making implicit associations with various sources of authority,' Gosling says. 'The bound volumes persist even though they may rarely be used. If I'm looking up a psychology article, it's more efficient to get it online, even if it's in one of the journals on my shelf.'
Pictures of the cubicle dweller with famous people may be intended to convey a similar message: I'm important. But not all pictures are created equal. There's probably a difference in status and accomplishment between someone pictured with presidents, popes and Nobel Prize-winning physicists and someone shown with movie stars, rock bands or sports heroes. There also may be a difference in intent: The person displaying pictures of matinée idols could be star struck or just having goofball fun.
Warning: There is no cookbook that tells you this or that gizmo or knick-knack means X, Y or Z. It's therefore very easy to become an armchair shrink and over-reach for meani"
Warning: There is no cookbook that tells you this or that gizmo or knick-knack means X, Y or Z. It's therefore very easy to become an armchair shrink and over-reach for meaning. Ask several people what the junk in Joe's office says about good old Joe and you're likely to get several different answers. So, think of office decor as the first take on a person whose personality will unfold over time as the working relationship develops.
"Look for an overall theme," Gosling says. "Individual items may be ambiguous. A single object or picture is just one piece of the puzzle."
In "What your office says about you" the article continues:
"Whether you work at a mom-and-pop operation or at a major firm like JPMorgan Chase (nyse: JPM - news - people ), Advanced Micro Devices (nyse: AMD - news - people ) or Cisco (nasdaq: CSCO - news - people ), you don't have to be named Sigmund to figure out what you're supposed to make of a degree from a big name university hung at eye level for all to see when walking into an office: I'm smart! Never mind that the truly brainy don't feel compelled to advertise the name of their old school. This malady afflicts many run-of-the-mill politicians who always let you know they went to a fancy school and often seem to be saying that the rest of us should shut up and listen to our betters.
'A lawyer with cases and cases of law books, scientists with rows of journals or English professors with all the classics are making implicit associations with various sources of authority,' Gosling says. 'The bound volumes persist even though they may rarely be used. If I'm looking up a psychology article, it's more efficient to get it online, even if it's in one of the journals on my shelf.'
Pictures of the cubicle dweller with famous people may be intended to convey a similar message: I'm important. But not all pictures are created equal. There's probably a difference in status and accomplishment between someone pictured with presidents, popes and Nobel Prize-winning physicists and someone shown with movie stars, rock bands or sports heroes. There also may be a difference in intent: The person displaying pictures of matinée idols could be star struck or just having goofball fun.
Warning: There is no cookbook that tells you this or that gizmo or knick-knack means X, Y or Z. It's therefore very easy to become an armchair shrink and over-reach for meani"
Warning: There is no cookbook that tells you this or that gizmo or knick-knack means X, Y or Z. It's therefore very easy to become an armchair shrink and over-reach for meaning. Ask several people what the junk in Joe's office says about good old Joe and you're likely to get several different answers. So, think of office decor as the first take on a person whose personality will unfold over time as the working relationship develops.
"Look for an overall theme," Gosling says. "Individual items may be ambiguous. A single object or picture is just one piece of the puzzle."
What your office says about you.
It's interesting the variety of office spaces and arrangements that are out there today. Two identically furnished offices can take on completely different personalities. In the article "What your office says about you", a psychology professor unravels some of the answer for us.
It's clear that the pictures, mementos and even the rubble piled in a corner of the office say a lot about the mug behind the desk.
But what? Arrangement of the junk is a good place to start when sizing things up.
'Take a look at the placement of the object,' says Dr. Samuel D. Gosling, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas, Austin, and author of The Secret Language of Stuff, to be published early next year by Basic Books. 'There are two audiences: others and ourselves. Some items are intended to show or build status. Others are simply expressions of values or personality traits, with no effort to establish status.'
This insight helps you get a first read on a person when you walk into an office or past a cubicle. A person unsure of himself may try on various 'looks' and work hard to be outrageous. A person trying to build status, and perhaps a little unsure of his standing, could place a pricey antique barber chair in the center of the office and perch on it during staff meetings.
“People sometimes make these status statements in a desperate way,” Gosling says. “But that doesn’t mean they’re being disingenuous. We want others to know who we are and just because someone is deliberately trying to tell us doesn’t mean they’re trying to pull the wool over our eyes.”
It's clear that the pictures, mementos and even the rubble piled in a corner of the office say a lot about the mug behind the desk.
But what? Arrangement of the junk is a good place to start when sizing things up.
'Take a look at the placement of the object,' says Dr. Samuel D. Gosling, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas, Austin, and author of The Secret Language of Stuff, to be published early next year by Basic Books. 'There are two audiences: others and ourselves. Some items are intended to show or build status. Others are simply expressions of values or personality traits, with no effort to establish status.'
This insight helps you get a first read on a person when you walk into an office or past a cubicle. A person unsure of himself may try on various 'looks' and work hard to be outrageous. A person trying to build status, and perhaps a little unsure of his standing, could place a pricey antique barber chair in the center of the office and perch on it during staff meetings.
“People sometimes make these status statements in a desperate way,” Gosling says. “But that doesn’t mean they’re being disingenuous. We want others to know who we are and just because someone is deliberately trying to tell us doesn’t mean they’re trying to pull the wool over our eyes.”
What Makes an Office Tick?
There seems to be a lot of confusion surorunding office space and decor. Often an office is a very emotional issue, though many would not admit that. But having an office space of your own, be it a windowed office with a view, or a numbered cubicle never-the-less creates pride of ownership.
How a person works, their preferred method of keeping "stuff", and their personal interests all contribute to their default office "look and feel". This blog exists to help unravel the mysteries of what is great and what is not so great, how it contributes to the owners pride and peace of mind, and how it affects co-workers and customers alike.
How a person works, their preferred method of keeping "stuff", and their personal interests all contribute to their default office "look and feel". This blog exists to help unravel the mysteries of what is great and what is not so great, how it contributes to the owners pride and peace of mind, and how it affects co-workers and customers alike.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)