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Getting Ahead and Defining Your Space - The Office

Guest post by: Don Doman

Article Overview: Many people want to know how to get recognized and known within an organization. They want their boss and their co-workers to take notice of them. A couple of days ago I watched a Science Channel program about wolves and I saw connections that combined attributes at work with wolf instinct.

Getting Ahead and Defining Your Space - The Office

Many people want to know how to get recognized and known within an organization. They want their boss and their co-workers to take notice of them. A couple of days ago I watched a Science Channel program about wolves and I saw connections that combined attributes at work with wolf instinct.

To be better known at work, define your space and set your boundaries by marking your territory: your cubical, your office. Think of yourself as a wolf. The wolf constantly travels his territory leaving signs that he owns this turf.

You mark your territory to show your pack members what and where you are, and you also mark your territory to show your competitors what you control.

Marking your territory should be fun, but forget about scent glands. I’m recommending little things you can do that establish control and notice. It can be expensive, but you can set your own budgetary limits within my suggestions. Basically, marking your territory means making your workspace your own, whether it’s a desk, a cubical, or an office.

One word of warning: if want to attract attention, then you should always look your best. This means personal attire and workspace. Always dress for success. Your workspace should be well-laid out and uncluttered. Put your best foot forward. You are going to have a lot of visitors.

In marking your territory, you need to involve all of the senses . . . including humor and wonder.

SIGHT

SCREENSAVER
Your computer screensaver is a pallet where your creativity is your only limit. If you have a professional headshot, you can put your publicity still on your screen for all visitors to see. Or, if you’re known for your humor, or want to be, you can pose for something funny. You can even produce a series highlighting the holidays and seasons and change your screensaver, often. If you don’t have a professional headshot, schedule a session with a local photographer (cost about $100).

MOUSE PAD
You have the same opportunity with your mouse pad as you do with your screen saver. A local office supply store should be able to supply you with printer supplies to make your own mouse pad. You could even have a matching screen saver and mouse pad. Or you could pass out your mouse pads to your favorite co-workers.

PHOTOGRAPHS
Do you have a personal hero? Share the hero with your friends. Put their image on the wall, framed and mounted. You can also use your favorite motivational quotation, or make up your own and print some with your name as the author. Hint: keep a camera at the office, so you can take a picture of a happy client or co-worker.

NAMEPLATE
Put your name on the door and on your desk. Let people know whom they are dealing with. Most towns have rubber stamp stores where signs can be made. Stand out in the crowd. Use double-backed tape for the door nameplate, when you move up.

CALENDAR
Do you have a favorite client who sends out a yearly calendar? If so, put up their calendar on your wall. Write on the calendar with a Magic Marker, “I love these guys!”

HEARING

FOUNTAIN
Buy a desktop fountain. The sound of rushing of water is relaxing, and you can choose one that matches your personality.

AUDIO CD
Put your favorite music in your computer to play. Keep the volume down, so you don’t bother anyone outside your area, but loud enough to be identifiable if you are in the room. Keep the control visible, so you can cut the audio for telephone and private conversations. This is easier if you have external speakers with a control knob.

SMELL

SCENT
Get yourself one of those little electric plug-ins. Choose the scent of your choice. If you wear perfume or shaving lotion that is identifiable with you, you could purchase a small atomizer and combine a little perfume or shaving lotion with water. Lightly spritz the light bulb on your desk. The warmth of the bulb will send your sent into the air. Be careful that people aren’t allergic to this, and if they complain, stop it.

COOKIES
Occasionally bring in some freshly baked cookies and drive people crazy. Bake them or purchase them from a bakery when you’re expecting company in your office. A real estate sales trick is to bake cookies in the kitchen of a house in which you are about to show clients. The smell of cookies, especially peanut butter or chocolate chip, should put most people in a good mood.

TASTE

CANDY
You can just buy your favorite cheap candies and have them in a jar for visitors, or you can even have Hershey Bars made with your name on the wrapper. Or you could combine the two. Have a cheap jar handy and the candy bars in a drawer. Personally, I would keep Hershey Bars under lock and key (they cost about a $1.50 each).

FORTUNE COOKIES
Emily’s Chocolates makes a dark chocolate fortune cookie. You can prepare your own fortunes . . . quoting yourself. This is a great one-two combination punch. Visitors taste something rich with complex flavors, and then read something you wrote. Memories are made of this.

TOUCH

TOYS
Toys are great items to have around on your desk. You can play with them while you’re on the phone. They give your hands something to do. They calm you down. Visitors come into your office and pick them up and play with them, too. For the more adventuresome, you may have your own bobblehead doll made from a photo of you . . . or your boss (cost is about $70).

THE MIND

LENDING LIBRARY
Visit garage sales and thrift stores and pick up copies of self-improvement books and tapes. Buy them for pennies. You can lend them to your co-workers. Make your own labels, “From the library of . . . “ If you read the books, use an felt pen to highlight favorite passages and add comments from you.

COMMENTS/SUGGESTION BOX
Attach a box to the wall, or put it on your desk. Add a sign, “Jack’s Suggestion Box.” Invite people to make comments about work, about your services, your product, or just you. The good ones you can forward to your boss. If you get a fantastic idea turned in and the author signed their name, be sure to share that with your boss. You will both share the glory, and you will be a team player.

BULLETIN BOARD
With a corkboard or even a cork tile, you can pin up cartoons, articles, and favorite editorials. Make a statement, but don’t be political. People like to think, but don’t want to be lectured to.

WHITE BOARD
A white board gives you the opportunity to write a comment of the day, or a quote of the day, or a brain-teaser of the day. People will stop by just to see what is being offered that day.

NEWSLETTER
Print your own newsletter about your adventures and your business achievements. Tell people about what you’ve been doing. Share your success. Post it on the wall, or make a pile of them available on your desk. Don’t give them to everybody, unless they ask for one.

Keep your workspace fun and lively and you should have a steady audience of people interested in who you are. Be prepared to come early to get your work done. With everybody stopping in to see you, your productivity might slip and that wouldn’t be good. But with your office or cubical as a point of interest and creativity, you should be well noticed.

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