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?
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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? :-)
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"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."
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"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."
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