How tidy your workers keep their desks may reveal more about them than you would think
As Albert Einstein once said: “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”
An American scientific study has found that working at a messy desk promotes creative thinking and helps a person stimulate new ideas.
The University of Minnesota carried out a series of tests on people working at clean and messy desks, while tracking their behaviour, according to the Telegraph.
“For example, participants in the study were given a choice between a new product and an established one.
“Those in the messy room were more likely to prefer the novel one – a signal that being in a disorderly environment prompts a release from conventionality.”
The study also revealed “working at a clean and prim desk may promote healthy eating, generosity and conventionality,” the Telegraph reported.
When participants were put in a clear, tidy room they were more likely to choose an apple over a chocolate bar, and donate to charity.
In another experiment, participants were asked to come up with new uses for ping pong balls.
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Despite the fact both groups generated the same number of ideas. The clutterers’ ideas were rated as more interesting and creative.
Professor Vohs said: "Being in a messy room led to something that firms, industries and societies want more of – creativity.
"We found...that you can get really valuable outcomes from being in a messy setting.
"Just making that environment tidy or unkempt made a massive difference in people's behavior.”
So, are your messy employees more creative?