Careful. They are watching. Is your cubicle plastered with Post-it notes or neat as a pin? Do you prominently display or discretely position family photographs? A green plant fanatic? How about those recent little toy give-aways from Burger King – do you have the whole set? You may not know it, but your workspace could be saying a lot of things about your personality.

Analysising personal workspace characteristics aren’t a new thing. Did you know that the United States government's Office of Strategic Services during World War II, ran a program of assessments which were suppose to identify candidates most suitable for work behind enemy lines. One of the selection tests was the “Belongings Test”, in which candidates were required to describe individuals based solely on what personal effects they had left in their bedrooms.

The academic world has also weighted in. One 2002 report from the University of Texas at Austin provided further support for the assumption underlying the Belongings Test — you can learn a lot about a person from the spaces in which they inhabit. The UT findings determined that offices reveal key aspects of a worker's personality in the “Big Five” personality traits: openness to experience, conscientiousness, emotional stability, extroversion and agreeableness. The results came from observations of 83 student rooms and 94 office spaces.

Since we spend almost as much time in our work area as we do at home, would it surprise you to know that around 80% of all American workers personalize their workspaces, according to a report from Eastern Kentucky University presented last year.

An issue of Psychology Today from several years ago offered up what your office area might be saying about you to your supervisors, bosses and coworkers:

• Plants and Foliage — Those cubes with all that lush foliage -- plants that are well cared for indicate someone who plans to stay for a while.
• Candy Bowl — This was my favorite one as a manager – to always have a jar of M&M’s on my desk. The meaning (according to the experts) is that it entices others into my workspace, showing I’m an extrovert; when for me it was more of welcome mat.
• Motivational Plaques/Inspirational Posters — This person is engaged in his or her job and wants to stay engaged. And I always thought it showed someone who lacks inner confidence.
• Post-it Notes — Over-reliance on Post-it notes is supposedly a sign of being overwhelmed.
• Degrees of Personalization — The level of personalizing (ok, decorating) workers do to their space indicates the level of comfort in their environment. A high degree show they are secure enough to put a personal stamp on the space to make it their own.
• Family Photos — The interpretation of this one is somewhat controversial and divided. Some psychologists say family photos are a status symbol, while others say they are a genuine reminder of loved ones and are displayed due to guilt of so much time away from them. Heck, I just got so much grief from family when they visited if I didn’t have their photos everywhere that is just seemed like a better way to keep the peace,
• Neatness -- We may try to mask untidiness by dumping items in drawers but psychologists assert that this personality trait is very resistant to change. "No matter how hard people try to clean up, usually they can never fully hide their true nature." A spick-and-span work area suggests a neat and organized individual.
• Just bare -- I don’t buy this one from the experts -- Empty work spaces hint at a person with little status in the company and who likely is not committed to his or her job.

Some employees personalize more than others — studies examining personality traits suggest that employees who personalize the most tend to be creative and have a higher need for affiliation and a lower need for privacy.

Do you agree with these interpretations? Does your workspace say something deep and important about you and your efficiency? Or worse, how your boss and coworkers perceive your efficiency? Should you be more careful about all the clues you leave about yourself in your office because your image is at stake?

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