A messy office doesn’t just affect your ability to get work done. It can also affect the opinion clients have of you. This article will show you why a clean office is essential for business success:
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- The impact of a messy office on your business reputation
- The way a disorganized desk affects your productivity
- The benefits of office organization for your company’s profits
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There’s no question that small business owners stay busy. Every day, you have to balance the needs of your clients, the needs of your team, and the needs of your business. With so many decisions to make and things to do, it’s not surprising for your office to get a little cluttered. Is taking time out of your schedule to tidy up that important? Well, according to a recent study, over 90% of Americans focus on how clean a business is when deciding whether to return or not.
How a Messy Office Affects Your Business
When you’re going to hire an employee, what do you look for? You likely base part of your decision on the way the person acts and dresses. Someone who comes to an interview with messy hair, food stains on their clothing, torn jeans, or poor manners probably isn’t going to impress you. In the same way, a messy office makes a bad first impression with clients in Kansas City.
Office clutter also has a negative effect on your team. These are just a few consequences when employees have messy office spaces:
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- Procrastination
- Lower product quality
- Disagreements/arguments
- Work accidents
- Workplace stress
- Poor customer service
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These factors also apply to professionals who work from home. Clutter affects home offices in Kansas City just as much as office buildings, especially if you meet with clients there or use video conferencing. A disorganized desk can distract you, slow you down and cause you to make less money.
What About Creativity?
It’s true that creative people like having notebooks, artwork and other items for inspiration. But, there’s a difference between creative freedom and clutter. In reality, a disorganized desk is stressful for everybody. Your office doesn’t have to be minimalist, but you do need plenty of open space to work.
What can you do? Decorate the office with things that get you excited. There’s nothing wrong with having a favorite comic strip framed on the wall or action figures on your bookcase.
During brainstorming sessions, feel free to stick colorful post-it notes to any surface you want. But, when it’s time to meet your deadline, you’ll benefit from getting rid of desk clutter and getting things done.
What Customers May Think About a Messy or Cluttered Office
What goes through the mind of customers when they walk through the door of a messy office or business location? The effect on your reputation is never a good one. Many people judge your business based on this first impression, even if it’s not true.
That You’re Disorganized or Lazy
When clients see a messy office desk with papers strewn everywhere or piles of unfinished work, they may think that your company is disorganized. Your passion and creativity may be obvious, but the real question is whether you’re able to finish what you start.
This is serious because it gives the impression that you won’t be able to deliver on your promises. It’s hard to trust the supply chain of a business that looks so messy. Clients may shop around instead.
That You’re Unprofessional
Professionalism goes hand-in-hand with cleanness. For example, if the waiting room for a doctor’s office is spotless, clients automatically assume that the medical care provided is top notch and the doctor is experienced. The opposite is true for a waiting room littered with crumpled magazines or worn-down furniture.
Whether you offer accounting services, sell real estate, coordinate online advertising, manufacture goods, or design architecture, you don’t want clients to get the impression that you’re unqualified. An organized space can communicate your expertise while still having personality.
That You Don’t Care About the Quality of Your Products
A messy office also puts the quality of your goods and services in question. What potential customers are thinking is “If the office area looks so disorganized, who knows what the production line looks like?” Of course, many small businesses view quality as the most important part of their company’s identity. But, if your office is messy, customers won’t believe it.
Imagine a married couple looking for a general contractor to build a new house. If they visit the business’s office and see a neat and organized space, they’ll probably reach the conclusion that the company performs excellent work. On the other hand, a messy office may leave the couple wondering if the contractor will cut corners or make mistakes.
That You Don’t Respect Your Clients
When you attend a wedding reception or another important event, you probably wear the best clothes you own. This is a way of showing respect for the guest of honor. In the same way, clients want to feel respected. When your staff has a professional attitude, and your office space is organized, it’s like telling your customers, “You are important to me.”
A messy office sends the opposite message. It gives the impression that you have more important things to do. Clients may think that you don’t take their business very seriously.
That You’re Too Busy or Stressed To Help
Finally, a disorganized desk makes it seem like you’re under a lot of pressure. Some customers may walk into your office, take one look, and walk back out. It’s not that they don’t like you, just that they think you’re so busy that you won’t have time for them. This can make you lose loyal clients to competitors by accident.
A messy office hurts your reputation and gives potential clients a negative view of your company. Considering how important word-of-mouth advertising and online reviews are these days, you can’t afford to let this happen.
Why a Clean Workplace Is Great for Kansas City Businesses
Just like a messy office is bad for your company’s reputation, your employees, and your own work, tidying up has huge benefits. Here are several reasons why staying organized is important:
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- Less stress
- Greater productivity
- Reputation for professionalism and quality
- Better customer satisfaction
- Higher volume of retail sales
- Improved workplace safety and less downtime
- Fewer allergies
- Fewer mistakes
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In the long run, a clean office saves you money and makes you money. Causing a great first impression on potential clients increases the size of your customer base and gets people talking about your business in a good way.
How To Keep Your Office Clean Without the Hassle
Keeping your office organized doesn’t have to be complicated. With our general contracting cleaning, your team can enjoy clean workspaces without having to handle cleaning. Our expert cleaning staff takes care of everything so you can focus on running your business and making your customers happy.
Give your company the best reputation possible. Contact us right away to learn more about our commercial cleaning services in Kansas City, MO.
Featured Image: thodonal88/Shutterstock
