What’s the big deal, you ask? So what if we want to display our bobbleheads, needlepoint, and irreverent posters on the job? After all, decorating a cubicle is a way to express our individuality and have a little fun, so what’s the harm?
Listen, I’m on your side, and the last thing I’d want for you (or me, for that matter) is less fun on the job. Still, even if you’re committed to holding on to the Jesus action figure standing quietly beside your computer monitor until your dying breath, hear me out, and consider the following dos and don’ts to decorating your workspace professionally:
- DO have a tastefully displayed photo or two of a significant other or your kids as a subtle reminder to your coworkers that you’re a person who does have a life outside the office. Photos of friends, fun vacation spots, or even pets are fine, too, within reason, but keep out the wacky party pics (like you winning the beer-drinking contest with your buddies last summer) and avoid plastering your cubicle with pictures of little Junior, especially if you’re a woman. Fair or not, overdoing the kid photos may put more emphasis on the “Mom” in you to your coworkers than you’d like, rather than convey a more professional image.
- DON’T assume that anyone thinks your “funny” poster is funny but you. Even if you work in an enclosed office or other private space — and most of us don’t — remember that everything you display in your workspace is for public viewing. Many an employee has been undone by hanging a poster or sign that seems “innocent,” only to be told by HR that their signage constitutes sexual harassment or is contributing to a hostile work environment. Fact: What seems funny to you may not be to someone you work with, and it’s not worth the time, effort, or risk to your career to deal with that headache.
- DO let your workspace do the talking for you — within reason. Graduated from Harvard? Good for you. Just leave the diploma off the wall, unless you want your coworkers secretly thinking you’re an egotistical blowhard — or at least someone who seems to need everyone else to know that he’s smart. On the other hand, if you’ve obtained a professional license or certification that’s required in order to practice (think doctor) then by all means, display away. In fact, the rest of us would be nervous if we didn’t see that license on your wall, so don’t be shy about hanging it up.
- DON’T lose sight of the big picture. It’s called a cubicle, not a living room, and you’ve been hired to do a job, not play with the bobbleheads you brought in to decorate your workspace. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have a personal item or two, particularly if it’s going to impact your productivity or health (think small plant, Steven Covey book, etc.), but leave anything questionable out. If Britney Spears would wear it on a t-shirt, or if you’d consider buying it as a gift for your first-grade nephew, best leave it at home.
Sure, you might work for an organization where anything goes, and you’d be considered the odd man out if you didn’t have a disco ball hanging over your desk. On the other hand, you might work for an organization that tries hard to create a professional image inside the workplace, and may not look too kindly upon your impressive bumper sticker collection.
Ultimately, your workspace is another reflection of you on the job. How you choose to decorate it is another way to reinforce your professional reputation and brand — or detract from them. After working so hard to create a career you’ll be proud of, why let a few dumb toys get in the way?
About the Author
Elizabeth Freedman, MBA, is an award-winning speaker and business columnist, and is the author of Work 101: Learning the Ropes of the Workplace without Hanging Yourself and The MBA Student's Job-Seeking Bible. She was a 2005 finalist for College Speaker of the Year, an honor awarded by the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities, and runs a Boston-based communications and career development firm that helps new professionals look sharp, sound smart, and succeed on the job. Clients include The Gillette Company, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and the Thomson Corporation. For more information about the author, please visit www.elizabethfreedman.com.
