From doodles and ring lights to Post-its and plants, here are six modern office personality types. See what your desk says about you – good to know thatย a messy desk isnโt a bad thing…
Our desks can offer a surprising window into our work personalities, according to organisation design and culture professor, Dr. Paula Thompson.
As hybrid and full-time office working becomes the norm, Dr. Thompson worked with leading office furniture specialists, Furniture At Work, to reveal six common desk personalities, from caffeine-fuelled creatives to lunch-forgetting workaholics, and the perfect jobs for them.
What your desk says about your personality
1. The office yapper
The social butterfly of the office. Their desk will often come complete with multiple half-drunk coffees, a notepad full of doodles (instead of deadlines!), and most importantly, a chair next to it for a chat. They’re the go-to person for gossip, advice, or morale, and are often heard before theyโre seen. The office yapper is best suited to a job in events, PR or recruitment.
2. The never-off-TikTok-er
This desk is less of a workspace and more of a personal studio. Think ring light, phone stand, Stanley Cup and an ever-present takeaway coffee. While they may appear distracted, theyโre usually multitasking pros โ replying to emails while racking up views. They would best suit a social media manager, content creator or brand influencer role.
3. The one who always forgets lunch
They meant to pack something but didnโt, again. This person is so focused on work that they often forget to eat.ย Youโll spot their desk by the crumpled cereal bar wrappers, emergency mint stash and the long-forgotten cup-a-soup. Their perfect job match would be a project manager, analyst, accountant, or programmer.
4. The caffeine addict
Fast paced and fuelled by coffee, this person treats their desk like a pit stop. Their area is scattered with empty cups, loyalty cards and a seemingly endless supply of instant coffee. The caffeine addict would be best suited to a job in copywriting, coding, or journalism โ just donโt schedule any meetings before their morning brew.
5. The plant parent
The Plant Parentโs desk is a jungle of succulents, monstera, and spider plants (some are thriving, some are not). This personality thrives on nurturing things, even if their plants occasionally suffer from a bit of post-weekend neglect. They would best suit a role as a caregiver, teacher, or therapist.
6. The hoarder
Their desk is a time capsule complete with old Post-it notes, faded receipts, and last yearโs birthday card โ and they wouldnโt have it any other way. The hoarder, who never forgets a single detail, would thrive as an archivist, admin assistant or researcher.
Dr. Thompson, who teaches organisational design at Pepperdine University, continued:
โWe certainly assume that a messy desk reflects a messy mind, but that’s not always the case. Some people are simply not very affected by their physical environment and can work effectively no matter the clutter or noise around them. Others might have a desk piled high with papers but know exactly where each one is.
โI believe it’s important for people to think about how others will interpret their workspaces. Pay attention to the culture at your organisation. If people tend to be very tidy and minimal, aim for the same. If your office is full of highly personalized and decorated desks, consider adding more items to your space.โ
For more information on each of the desk personalities, check out the Furniture At Work blog.
You might also enjoy reading about what different desk postures mean and what suits who.
