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What Your Workspace Says About You

If you spend a lot of time at a desk, personalizing the space makes sense — whether it’s a private corner office or a shared cubicle. But just as your clothes and body language make an impression on others, your workspace gives coworkers and clients a distinct impression about you.

Plants, books, artwork — even your name plaque — transmit clues about your efficiency, sociability and competence, experts say. “Everything in your office sends a message, whether you want it to or not,” says Lisa Marie Luccioni, an adjunct professor of communication at the University of Cincinnati.

So what might they be thinking when they see your space?

You’d Rather Be Fishing (or Skiing or Skydiving or Building Birdhouses)

Evidence: Pictures and artifacts from your hobby on every surface.

There’s a delicate balance between sharing your interests and giving the impression that you’re daydreaming all day about jumping out of planes or skiing, according to Barbara Pachter, business etiquette expert and the author of New Rules at Work. “Pictures of your hobby are good conversation starters, but if you have too many of them, it makes people wonder whether you’re really daydreaming about fly-fishing,” she says.

They Can Hang Around

Evidence: A full candy dish, aspirin in the drawer, well-tended plants, pictures of children and babies.

“Things like an open door, candy, a comfortable guest chair and photos of people — but not pictures of objects — signal an extroverted workspace that people will feel free to linger in,” says Sam Gosling, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas and author of Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You.

They Shouldn’t Hang Around

Evidence: Flimsy guest chair, guest chair covered in files or no guest chair. Your desk faces away from guests. Minimal or no decoration.

“Even if your office has photos or artwork, but they’re images of things and not people, [people] can make an assumption you’re more introverted and might not want them to linger,” Gosling says.