You may think having a cluttered office space isn’t that big of a deal. However, studies show that there is a direct correlation between productivity and clutter. In other words, disorganization does in fact impact how much your employees can get done.
What’s more is that research also shows the vast majority of what we keep, we never use. As a result, hanging on to all those papers, supplies and equipment can actually wind up costing you time, space, and money.
So what’s the solution?
One way to combat office clutter and get organized is to set aside a “clean up” day every few months for you and your employees. Send the message that this day isn’t just about clearing up office clutter. It’s about making the office work more efficiently and improving productivity.
To help you, here are a few tips to put into action:
- Assign an employee to coordinate the day. This should be someone on your staff who is a “take charge” kind of person and highly organized. That said, they shouldn’t be a drill sergeant either. They should have a good rapport with their co-workers.
- Identify a good day to purge. Select a date well in advance that falls during a slow period. If your company is a large one, then consider letting each department set their own date to keep disruptions at a minimum.
- Be sure to announce the date well in advance so employee can plan for it. Also let them know where to get cleaning supplies and whom to contact if there’s a problem or questions.
- Communicate rules for retention. Despite your desire to purge, there are going to be certain records you have to retain. Know the rules of what needs to be kept and for how long and be sure to communicate that information to your staff. You may need to talk to your legal and financial advisors ahead of time to find out.
- Arrange for recycling and trash. Be sure to have plenty of trash and recycling containers on hand. Also, notify your maintenance crew of the event and that there will be extra work that day.
- Make it fun. Add a little flair to the day by buying lunch for the staff, creating prizes for categories like “Most Unusual Find,” or “Most Improved Desk,” and be sure to donate any supplies and materials your staff no longer needs, but another organization may be able to use.
- Consider hiring a temporary employee to answer phones. Even though it’s a purge day, you’ll still have customers calling and business to conduct. To ensure all your full-time staff can participate, consider bringing in a temporary employee to answer phones and direct the workflow for the day.
The little things really do make a big difference. And an organized space is an efficient one. So spend the time to transform your office into a more productive one.
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