Scott Sonnenshein, a professor and co-author of "Joy at Work," shares innovative strategies for decluttering your work life. He discusses the significant benefits of a tidy workspace on mental well-being and productivity. Listeners will learn three essential questions to determine what to keep in their offices, how to effortlessly let go of sentimental items, and tips for streamlining their digital lives. Additionally, Scott highlights the importance of quality networking and efficient meetings, transforming clutter into clarity for enhanced professional success.
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insights INSIGHT
Impact of Messes
Messes at work increase cortisol levels and harm productivity, costing about $400 billion annually in the US due to poorly organized meetings.
Tidying up workspaces leads to better work satisfaction, improved productivity, and a better reputation.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Cluttered Office
Brett McKay describes a cluttered office experience with stacks of paper everywhere, feeling cramped and unpleasant.
Scott Sonnenschein shares his experience of tidying his office filled with 400 books, discarding half and feeling more organized.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Tidying and Procrastination
Avoid using tidying as a procrastination tool.
Establish a tidying system and implement it once to avoid constant reorganization.
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In 'Joy at Work', Marie Kondo and Scott Sonenshein offer practical strategies to declutter both physical and digital workspaces, focusing on tasks that bring joy and fulfillment. The book combines Kondo's decluttering principles with Sonenshein's insights on workplace psychology to create a more efficient and joyful work environment.
Stretch
unlock the power of less-- and achieve more than you ever imagined
Scott Sonenshein
In this book, Scott Sonenshein argues that the key to success and satisfaction is not in acquiring more resources, but in making the most out of what you already have. He distinguishes between two approaches to resource management: 'chasing' (pursuing more resources) and 'stretching' (embracing and creatively using existing resources). Using compelling stories and research in psychology and management, Sonenshein shows how individuals and organizations can achieve more with less by adopting a stretching mindset. This approach involves psychological ownership, embracing constraints, frugality, and uncovering hidden value in resources. The book provides practical strategies for changing one's mindset and behaviors to achieve better results in both personal and professional life.
When you think about decluttering, you probably think about your home life, and cleaning out your junk drawer and closets. But there are also ways to declutter your work life and tidy up both its physical and digital aspects.
My guest today explains the art of practicing minimalism in your professional life in a book he co-authored with organizing expert Marie Kondo. His name is Scott Soneshein, he's a professor of business and management, and his book is Joy at Work. Scott and I begin our conversation by unpacking the benefits of keeping your work life neat and tidy, and then move into how to do this in regards to your physical workspace. Scott shares three questions to ask yourself when you declutter your office to help you decide which items to keep and which to throw away. We also take a useful aside into how to throw away your children's artwork with less guilt. We then move into how to declutter your digital life by cleaning up your email inbox and smartphone. We end our discussion with several areas you may not think of in terms of clutter, but probably need some tidying up: your activities, decisions, network, and meetings.
The Art of Manliness 
