Comments on: The desk whisperer

By: fembot

fembot — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:17:12 +0000

I enjoyed your talk and you looked super cute. That is all that matters.

If you’re keeping track, I am also a righty. At work, my phone is on the left side of my desk and I answer it with my left hand.

We must all be weird.

By: messyann

messyann — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:15:26 +0000

I, too, am right-handed and keep phone on left side, and answer it with my left hand. Probably because as a newspaper reporter, I learned to keep the “pen” writing hand handy.
Lovely talk. Bravo.

By: Shalin

Shalin — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:30:34 +0000

Wonderful! This reminds me of Pecha Kucha, TED, etc…
–S

By: Jim Samuel

Jim Samuel — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:42:08 +0000

Right handed here and I also keep the phone to the left and answer with my left hand. If you keep the phone to the right, you have the cord in front of you when you try to write.

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At Least Looking Productive… « Geeks Guide To Productivity — Mon, 18 May 2009 07:08:26 +0000

[...] Rooney Doland of Unclutterer fame shares on how to increase the perception that your [...]

By: Catrien

Catrien — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:49:16 +0000

Yep, I’m agreeing with the phone comments! If you’re left-handed, you keep your phone on the right side (then your left hand is free to write). I see I’m not the only one who does this.

By: Rochelle DeLong

Rochelle DeLong — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:36:11 +0000

Great presentation, Erin.

We had our first IgniteBoise in March, and are hosting our 2nd in July. Your presentation has definitely sparked an interest in me to plan something fun to present that will peak interest in how to stay uncluttered without being so buttoned up.

By: Les McNulty

Les McNulty — Sun, 17 May 2009 07:45:16 +0000

I’m right-handed, and I agree with Kevin. Keep the phone on the left. You can easily pick up the handset with your left hand, and keep your right free for notes.

This is my setup at my office, and at my home office.

By: Thom

Thom — Sun, 17 May 2009 04:49:33 +0000

I’m with Kevin, Ava, Sheena et al. I – a right-hander – answer my phone with my left hand. This leaves my writing hand immediately free to take notes (or type or mouse) during the call without having to shift the handset. And, as others have said, it means the cord doesn’t stretch across my working area.

I would add that there’s sense in answering the phone with your non-dominant hand (or teaching yourself to “mouse goofy”, something I also do but on an ad hoc basis): it helps you distribute/balance the use of your body and arms during a day working at the desk, which has to be beneficial.

In my case, holding the phone in my left hand also happens to mean that it’s very easy for anyone approaching or looking over at my desk to see that I’m on the phone – that helps avoids inept interruptions while I’m taking calls. Obviously, if my office geography changed that might not be the case; I’d still be answering the phone with my left hand though!

By: Sheena

Sheena — Sun, 17 May 2009 03:01:58 +0000

Right handed with the phone on the left as well. Didn’t realize that about myself.

I clean my desk off at work each night, even if I have unfinished projects. It’s a mind thing. I like to come in the morning and decide what I will start rather than come in and sigh and think, “god, I have all this unfinished business.”

By: Louise

Louise — Sun, 17 May 2009 01:41:08 +0000

I just read an article on how to create a great PowerPoint presentation, and you totally nailed it! I am working on a new mini-training session for a Red Cross project and I am totally inspired by your talk. Maybe I can even get it to 5 minutes. No way am I going to wear a little black dress during disaster training, though

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:52:33 +0000

@Terry — Yes, the NSGCD Clutter Hoarding Scale. I say that in the presentation, or at least I was supposed to! What I practice and what comes out live are sometimes two different things If you could see the image on the screen better, it’s really obvious. There is rotting food and pathways are blocked.

By: Terry Prince

Terry Prince — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:13:52 +0000

Historically, it has been recommended for right handed people to have their phone on the left side – and conversely, left handed individuals to have it on the right side. This is because in the age of corded phones, the cord did not cross the desk when you were using a writing instrument or spill your water or beverage on your desk. If you use a headset or have a cordless phone this may no longer be a problem.

Erin, I have a question about your presentation – were you referring to the NSGCD Cluttter – Hoarding Scale or something else?

By: Glenn

Glenn — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:26:28 +0000

Thank you for sharing that video. You had mentioned that you dabbled in some stand-up type activities – this one was funny and useful. Loved it!

As for the left – right handed phone issue…
Being ambidextrous, I just answer the phone with my mouth.

By: Sky

Sky — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:26:03 +0000

I like that….”on the side of the hand you answer the phone with”. I’m right handed but apparently left eared.

You looked very sophisticated in your black dress!

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:13:19 +0000

You are truly the exception. Most people, when in a hurry to answer their phone, answer it with their predominant hand. Maybe the better way to have phrased it would have been “on the side of the hand you answer the phone with.”

By: deb

deb — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:27:52 +0000

Nice presentation!

I have to disagree about the phone thing too. I’m right handed and have my phone on the left. If I were to pick it up with my right hand I would immediately put it into my left hand. Why? First, I need to press the “talk” button with my right index finger. Second, I listen with my left ear so my right hand and arm are totally free to write or whatever.

By: Ava

Ava — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:22:08 +0000

I’m with Kevin…

I’m a right handed human… my phone sits to my left. It’s easy to answer with my left hand, keeps the right hand free for doing other stuff.

By: Lori Paximadis

Lori Paximadis — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:34:08 +0000

Great presentation, Erin! Congrats!

By: Erin Doland

Erin Doland — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:22:22 +0000

@Kevin — If you’re right handed, and your phone is on your left, you still answer it with your right hand. People don’t switch their predominant hand when they answer the phone. It’s a habit. Also, you don’t listen to the phone comfortably on your less dominant ear (tied to handedness). In theory, your idea sounds fun. But that isn’t how humans comfortably and typically work.