Every year when review time comes around at my workplace, I am oftentimes asked whether or not I would be interested in becoming a manager. To be perfectly frank with you, I always answer with the same response which is that I am happy being an individual contributor.
I have been a manager in the past and I don’t think the benefits that come with being a manager are worth it. I don’t like having to be responsible for others because most of the time those people don’t meet the standards that I have set for myself.
As a result of being an individual contributor, I’ve been relegated to a cubicle or a very small office wherever I have worked. It’s OK with me because I understand that with a role of an individual contributor comes with it a cubicle-size office space.
Some may always strive for that big office with all of the bells and whistles like hardwood furniture, a window view, and a door for privacy. I, on the other hand, am very content in my small office because I have pretty much signed up for that environment by declining any type of managerial role.
Having accepted my limited office space willingly, I have worked diligently searching for office accessories that make by cubicle life a better one. Cubicle shelves have made quite a difference in my office environment. So what do I really mean by cubicle shelves? Whether you know it or not, there are many different types of shelving made specifically for a cubicle or a small office space.
Specialized Wall-Attached Cubicle Shelves
About a year ago I was looking through an office catalog for cubicle accessories that would enhance the small and limited amount of square footage that I have in my office. I came across this very unique office product that was called a cubicle shelf. In a similar way that a cubicle clip or panel clip grabs onto a cubicle wall, this cubicle shelf comes with hardware that sinks into the grey cubicle wall fabric. It is quite a smart and novel way to secure a shelf but it works! I’ve had mine for roughly a year and it works perfectly for my small cubicle. I was able to move a bunch of small items off of my desktop and onto the shelf.
Another wall-attached shelf that I purchased is called a letter tray. The only real difference between the cubicle shelf mentioned previously is that it has a little bit of a different configuration. The letter tray is a surface that is more conducive to storing file folders that may be related to a current project on which you are working. It comes out from the wall a little further than the cubicle shelf which makes it a perfect size for file folders. Just because it is made with those dimensions does not mean that you have to only keep file folders on it. I use it for my compressed air that I use for blowing out my keyboard at least once a week and I also store my box of tissues on this surface.
Hanging Cubicle Shelves
Another option that you have when it comes to cubicle shelves is the type of configuration that hangs from the top of a cubicle wall. A cubicle wall is roughly two to four inches in thickness so it is fairly easy to manufacture hardware that wraps over the top of the wall. A cubicle wall provides the perfect divider for hanging coat hooks or a number of other cubicle-related items like dry erase boards or hanging wall organizers as well as various types of shelving units.
I own a set of triple trays that project out from the cubicle wall and are secured on top by a hook that hangs from the top of the wall. I use these trays all the time for holding file folders, notebooks, and paperwork that I need to access regularly. In fact, I recently tested whether or not I really needed these triple trays because I wasn’t using them as regularly as I had anticipated. So, one day I took them down. Within a couple of days, all of the file folders and various pieces of paperwork that I was storing on these handy surfaces were now resting on top of my desk. The result was clutter on my desktop which is my #1 pet peeve! So guess what? I put them right back up and they haven’t been taken down since that day.
Another form of hanging cubicle shelving is called triple file pockets. These are thinner shelf-like units that allow you to store important and current file folders from your cubicle walls. They, once again, have hardware that wraps over the top of the cubicle wall which allows you to move these folders off of your desktop and onto the walls. It’s a great way to store file folders or paperwork that needs your immediate attention. When you are done with that particular project you can replace what’s in the file pocket with what’s hot. These do not project out from the cubicle wall as far as the triple trays which is a feature that some people prefer. I don’t actually use these but I have many co-workers who do and they love them. I find that in comparison to the triple trays they are specific to storing file folders and nothing else which to me is a little restrictive which is why I prefer the triple tray configuration.
Cubicle Desk Shelving
Another option when it comes to cubicle shelves is desk shelving. It’s not the best option in my eyes simply because you are covering up some area of your desktop but there is at least one type of desk shelf that takes up a minimum amount of space. I purchased a desk shelf that is supported by two metal supports that rest on the desktop and these supports enable a surface to be raised above the desk about 8 inches. Since the metal supports are so thin, you can place office items like coffee mugs or a tissue box underneath the shelf surface while simultaneously storing items like heavy books, an office radio, and a stapler on top of the shelf.
Another desk shelf in which I invested within the past year is a corner shelf unit. I do like this type of desk shelf in particular because it is hard to make good use of the corner of your desktop where the cubicle wall meets the desk surface. This corner unit is perfect for storing books and other small office products and doesn’t take up a very large footprint. It’s a great storage option for a small office.
Investing in strategic and practical cubicle shelves for your small office space will make a huge difference in how you utilize that space. If you take advantage of your cubicle wall space for storage, you might just feel liberated and realize that the limited space that you have been allotted isn’t really as confining as you had originally thought!
