You’re sitting at your desk, trying to get some work done. You’ve got a nice, organized workspace, and it’s just the way you like it… that is until you lift your head up and look at your neighboring coworker. The remains of yesterday’s lunch? Still there. A teetering stack of paper? Yep. You can’t even tell what the surface of his desk looks like.
What can you do when you’re sharing a space with a coworker who, let’s just say, thrives with a very different level of cleanliness than you? Well, you can decide to walk away. You can stay and try to change the situation. Or, you can decide to stay but figure out a way to deal with things.
First, ask yourself.
- Is it just you that is bothered by the mess? If there are others, your case might be stronger.
- Whose mess is it (is the person a senior-level employee?) If this is the case, there may not be anything you can do about it. Sad, but true.
- Is “messiness” just part of the office culture? If so, you’ve got to decide if you even want to fit into this environment.
When you’re working in an office setting, there are bound to be multiple personality types, each with his or her own needs. Different people have different tolerances for messiness around them, and some actually work better that way!
So, you’ve got some options:
- Try to figure out what exactly is bothering you about the situation. Identify the emotions that come up. Then, ask yourself what you really need to feel comfortable.
- Recognize that some people thrive when they’re surrounded by chaos.
- Understand that it may simply be a conflict in work styles. How can you coexist and get what you need to be your best without trying to control others?
- If it’s really bothering you, try to get permission to control your immediate environment. Can you put up a screen, bring in a potted plant, re-orient or move your desk?
- If you’re going to have a conversation about messiness with a coworker, use humor, keep it light, and do it privately.
- Finally, if all else fails, talk to your boss, or HR, or the person who has the power to actually change things. Explain why you’re bothered by the situation and what you think should be done about it.
It’s a balancing act. You’ve got to be careful not to be pushy and overbearing, but at the same time, you need to maintain your own workspace so you can feel good about your work.