DO you consider your office messy? Your idea of neat and tidy could be completely different from how your manager views cleanliness.

If your colleagues walk by your office with a disgusted look on their faces, it is probably time to clean; that old food is starting to smell.

Most likely, organised clutter doesn’t mean a tidy appearance. You may want to take a second look at your desk. Can you find all of your important documents and files? If not, today is the day to try to become more organised.

Staying organised isn’t only a good idea to save time when looking for papers. Human resources managers seem to think that a cluttered desk could indicate a cluttered mind. Eighty-three per cent of HR managers agree with this statement, according to a survey by OfficeTeam, a staffing service that questioned more than 500 managers.

Eighteen per cent of respondents say the neatness of an employee’s desk greatly affects their perception of that person’s level of professionalism, while 65 per cent say it somewhat affects their perception. Only 17 per cent of managers say their view isn’t affected at all by the appearance of an employee’s workspace.

“A tidy desk won’t necessarily boost your career, but a messy one can leave a bad impression on colleagues,” says Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. “By taking simple steps to organise your workspace, you also will be able to find materials more easily and increase your productivity.”

OfficeTeam asked members of the International Association of Administrative Professionals for advice on maintaining an organised working area:

* Sit in your visitor chair to get a perspective on what others see when entering your cubicle or office. You want it to be visually attractive to guests.

* Establish an organisation system that suits your style. Begin by trying to organise in a method that works for you. You can always go back and rearrange the items at a later time.

* File, don’t pile. Put your paperwork in vertical or tickler files. Be sure to label or colour-code the papers for easier access.

* Don’t touch the same piece of paper more than once without filing, recycling or tossing it, or passing it along to the next person. Avoid letting unneeded papers pile up. Put it in a designated spot or give it to your colleague.

* Keep only the materials needed for your current project on your desk. Once your project is done, take the time to clear the papers.

* Print documents only when necessary and go paperless. Try to do tasks electrically whenever possible. Use computer calendars or e-mail alerts to help remember important events.

* Take a few minutes before lunch and again just before leaving the office to clear your workspace. This will help reduce the clutter. If you continue to pile, organising your space will turn into a major cleaning project.

You don’t want to be embarrassed to show your office or cubicle to co-workers, management or clients. Take pride in your workspace by making an effort to keep it clean and tidy. It will pay off, especially if managers do link your professionalism with your cleanliness.

— Creators News Service