What does the state of your desk and overall office say about your personality or the day-to-day business tasks you’re trying to complete? Are you trying to make an organization system work to no avail?

Answer these questions to match up your personality with your ideal organization solution to keep your office and your desk clutter-free and sparkling clean.

1. Do you prefer a clean, orderly desk and office area?

• Yes, otherwise I get distracted with non-work things.
• Not sure; I never really thought about it before.
• No, I know where everything is, so clutter doesn’t bother me.

2. Does clutter make you feel claustrophobic?

• Yes! I feel like I can’t breathe in a messy room.
• Sometimes, usually when I’m looking for something I need, and it’s buried under stacks of paper.
• No. Never.

3. Are you afraid that you’ll lose things or never see them again if you put them away?

• No, I’m a big believer in finding a place for everything.
• Sometimes, especially if I’m just throwing random stuff in a drawer or cabinet.
• Yes! I can’t explain why, I just feel like I’ll have to tear the house apart again to find what I need, and I’ll end up with a bigger mess.

4. How would you describe those items cluttering your desk or office space?

• The important things I need to run my business.
• I have many piles of business-related things, but I know where everything is.
• I’m not sure; I have a mish mash of items for business and for my personal life.

5. Have you ever tried hiring a professional organizer to streamline your organizational systems?

• Yes, and it was a lifesaver!
• No but I’m about ready to give it a try.
• What’s a professional organizer?

6. Have you ever considered hiring a personal assistant to clean out your office?

• Yes, but can I hire her just for that project?
• You can do that?
• No, it seems like a waste of money.

7. Do you believe that the look of a clean desk and office is important?

• Yes, it’s important for my business image.
• Not really. If I can run my business, I don’t care what my desk looks like.
• No. I have more important things on my mind than having a clean desk.

8. How would YOU assess your current organizing style?

• I’m a minimalist. I prefer everything in its place and only the necessities within easy reach.
• I’m a stacker. I don’t need fussy organizing tools; I know where everything is in my office even if it looks messy to an outsider.
• I’m a saver. I can’t throw anything away for fear that I may need it one day.

9. Do you put things away immediately or leave them around?

• I always put things away when I’m done with them.
• It depends on what the item is. If it’s a tool, I’ll wait until the whole project is complete.
• No, I leave things around. I usually get distracted with something else before I clean up.

10. Do you feel your office clutter (or lack thereof) contributes to your productivity level?

• Yes, my clean desk prepares me to focus just on work tasks and I can get started right away.
• Possibly, I never thought about that correlation before.
• No, that sounds ridiculous that clutter would affect my job performance.

Take a look at your answers; do you notice any patterns?

In general, if you’re a Minimalist who likes everything in its place and is bothered by clutter, then you have a vast array of organizing tools to choose from for your desk and office space.

If you’re a Saver but you know where everything is, you may prefer a more customized organization method. Some Savers use their piles as visual reminders, so choosing to use binders instead of hidden filing systems may be a better choice.

If you’re a No Rules type of person who isn’t bothered in the least by clutter, you may prefer to delegate this cleaning and organization to a professional who can take the task and run with it. Those who are constantly on the run and don’t have time in their own schedules will also benefit from delegating this task.

Professional organizers can help any personality type but the key to success is being honest about your preferences and hiring an organizer who will truly take your preferences to heart instead of implanting a one-size-fits-all solution.