What Your Boss’s Desk Says about Their Leadership Style  

Good communication influences the success of many areas in the workplace; it can enhance employee morale, foster stronger relationships with clients, encourage diversity and build a stronger team. However, poor communication can destroy those same relationships. For the seasoned professional, it’s pretty easy to pick up on verbal cues, people tend to speak with you in the style that best suits them. If you have had difficulty establishing strong communication with your boss or one of your new team members, it’s possible that you are missing some non-verbal cues giving insight to their personality and how best to approach them.

Think about or look at the desk of the person with whom you’d like to improve your communications. Each desk provides a glimpse into the occupant’s personality, personal life, and leadership style.

Psychologists, and business people alike, will be familiar with the four main personality types expressed as DISC traits: dominant, influential, steady and conscientious, pioneered by William Mouton Marston in the 1920’s. Each personality type is defined by certain, recognizable characteristics. Those characteristics play out in all areas of a person’s life, including their work space. You can use the information you’ve gathered to change the way you communicate with your boss or employee.

DISC traits: Dominant, Influential, Steady and Conscientious:

Dominant
People likely refer to the D personality as direct, domineering or demanding. They take charge of situations and naturally direct people. They can be opinionated, blunt and may seem rude when they interrupt conversations.

The “D” personality is legend in their own mind and their desk will be a reflection of their importance. Their desk is large, cumbersome even, with a burgeoning inbox and neatly stacked piles of projects covering the desktop that almost scream, “I’m too busy to talk to you.” In fact, their desk might be positioned in such a way as to discourage anyone from approaching them to share either the space or their ideas. The few personal items that reside in the “D”‘s work space will usually add to the air of success: diplomas and awards mixed with an oddly-placed family photo as an afterthought.

Influential
When you meet the “I” personality, you might feel as if you have been best buds in another life, so strong is their influential power. I’s are open and friendly communicators who long to positively impact the world around them.

The “I”, or influencer’s, office will invite you into the space. You might find a comfortable chair or two, grouped to encourage conversation and interaction. The “I” won’t often hide behind a desk, which is a good thing, because the desk will generally be misunderstood as “cluttered” or “messy” by anyone other than another “I” personality. The desktop might look like the copier blew up nearby, so oddly strewn are the papers on top of every surface. The influencer loves visual cues and will, therefore, have Post-It notes of every color hanging near or on the desk. If you notice motivations posters and quotations from favorite authors or mentors, you are probably dealing with an Influencer.

Steady
Steady “S” personalities love order and systems. They are careful and deliberate, often waiting for every last detail before making a decision.

“S” personality types will surround themselves with the things that stabilize their environment. Look for their personal photos of family and close friends, all in matching frames in subdued tones, that to them represent the close relationships they crave. The Steady personality will add touches to soften their office space including plants, area rugs and soft lighting.

Conscientious/Compliant
The “C” personality prefers to be right, or compliant. They are the rule followers who will often say very little in order to avoid rocking the boat. They likely prefer written over oral communication, as they can lay out each detail in orderly fashion.

Everything has its place inside the Conscientious personality’s desk. You can recognize the “C” desk because everything is inside the desk and the top is clean and free of all clutter. Anything that must be in reach and within sight– telephone, monitor and in-box–is neatly arranged. If a pen is visible, it is sticking out of the designated pen holder in the clean blotter. All other pens are stashed in the organizer inside the drawer. “C”s are task-oriented and efficient, almost to a fault. They prefer limited people interaction and their desk, positioned between them and the door, allows them to speak with you without the necessity of inviting you into their domain.

If you are looking for insights into your boss, or your employee, to improve communication—Great! The previous tips should help you determine which personality you’re dealing with. Take note, however, of some of the other subliminal messages that your desk might be conveying to passersby:

• “I’m on my way out.” If you are brand new to your position, it’s understandable that you haven’t added any personal touches, but at the 6-month mark it looks a little like you don’t plan to stay very long.
• “I’m a germophobe.” Yep. That 32 oz. bottle of hand sanitizer and the disinfecting wipes on your desk give the impression that you think the rest of the office lacks a certain level of hygiene.
• “I’m sick.” It’s okay if you need to take prescription or OTC meds during the workday, but you shouldn’t need to line them up on your desk for all to see, like an odd invitation into your medical history. Move the cold medicine, Advil, vitamins, and prescription meds into your desk drawer.