Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the projects seem to never end? Imagine how good you would feel if every day you could start with a clean and organized desk? Well dream no further! By following the three powerful tips listed below, your dreams will become reality!
Setting up your system: Start by ordering two 8 ? x 11 "flat desk files". A flat desk file looks like an accordion file, except it lays flat on your desk and can be easily carried with you. One desk file should be tabbed A-Z, the second one should be tabbed 1-31. The A-Z desk file is perfect for hold the resumes of potential new hires, sorted by last name. This A-Z desk file is also great for keeping employee or client "working" files, at your fingertips. The 1-31 desk file is ideal for organizing upcoming meetings or projects, by appropriate dates. Also, this tool is perfect for managing any projects you have delegated to be done by others. For instance, if you have a big project due on the 18th and have assigned others to complete certain portions of the project by the 12th, then file your notes to the 12th and confirm on the 12th the work has been done. Then, re-file this project for completion on the 16th so you can do any last minute changes, before the 18th.
Tip From The Coach: Remember, any organization system is only as good as you make it. It generally takes 21 days to incorporate a new idea into your current system. Stick with it?having a system for your paperwork is a real joy!
Using the four D's: The four D's are DO IT, DELEGATE IT, DECIDE OR DUMP IT. These are your only four choices when handling any kind of paperwork. "Do It' means exactly that?do it now and do not handle any piece of paperwork a second time. This means, read the information you've been sent and act on it. "Delegate It" requires you to ask the question?"who can help me complete this project or task so I can stay focused on my responsibilities?" Once you have delegated a project to someone else, then use your desk file (1-31) to store your notes until the project is completed. "Decide" means the paperwork you have been sent will require your quiet and uninterrupted attention, like monthly financial reports or annual employee reviews. Put this type of work into a separate folder labeled "To Decide" and find a few quiet minutes early the next morning before your work day begins, and complete this project or task. "Dump it" means exactly that?dump as much as possible in the trash can, the first time you handle any paperwork. It's that simple.
Tip From The Coach: In addition to the four D's, schedule an appointment with yourself twice a year when business is the slowest, to review all the paperwork you have filed in your office. Take the time to "dump" everything you no longer need. Each time you do this, it will further clarify for you which paperwork is important to your company to save and which paperwork can be easily discarded.
Scheduling your day: Schedule your day using some form of computer software/paper calendar or appointment book. Try to schedule important meetings early in the week so others can work on the assignments you have given them. Try and schedule all interviews early in the morning when you are the most rested and the least likely to be interrupted. By having a busy morning, you then have the freedom to plan the rest of your day more loosely. Use your calendar or appointment book to schedule both professional and personal activities as it is helpful to have everything in one place. Lastly, schedule an appointment with yourself for any projects you are working on. This is a simple way to manage your workload and a powerful way to have your "to do" list LIVE in your week's calendar.
Tip From The Coach: Now, once you have followed the tips above, schedule the things most important to you. Start by planning the time you are going to spend with your family, the time you are going to spend with those you love, and yes-time for yourself to relax and enjoy your life. Please know that having a rich and rewarding life starts with simplicity.
Want to hear more about this important topic or ask some additional questions? Fax a note on your letterhead to 435-615-8670 or send an E-mail to ernest@powerhour.com and The Coach will fax/E-mail back to you a free invitation to be a participant on a TeleForum conference call. I promise we will have great fun!
Author's note: Ernest F. Oriente, The Coach, is the founder of PowerHour? a professional business coaching/recruiting service and the author of SmartMatch Alliances?. He has spent 17,500 hours [since 1995] delivering customized training, by telephone, in leadership, traditional/Internet marketing and sales for fast growing sales companies and entrepreneurial businesses worldwide. PowerHour? specializes in global distance learning by telephone, using their state-of-the-art conference call system for interactive and dynamic TeleForums. Twice-monthly TeleForums link 10-100 executives/professionals/individuals who are geographically dispersed, in a time efficient and profitable format.
PowerHour? is based in Olympic-town?Park City, Utah, at 435-615-8486, by E-mail ernest@powerhour.com or visit their TeleForum website: ernest@powerhour.com. To receive a FREE success newsletter, with subscribers in 74 countries, send an E-mail to: ernest@powerhour.com. Recent PowerHour? articles have appeared in 4000+ business/trade publications and websites.
Many people have a huge challenge coping with the incoming... Read More
Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the... Read More
Have you ever felt so discouraged, your life so out-of-control,... Read More
Are stacks of papers, mail, newspapers, and growing "to do"... Read More
What does "time" have to do with getting organized? Everything!... Read More
Chances are, most of you have a lot you need... Read More
Hasn't time flown? Already we're into the last quarter of... Read More
Whoever thought you'd be able to get organized in just... Read More
It is 5:00 pm and Cindy has no idea what... Read More
Laundry. You sort, you wash, you fold, you blink ?... Read More
I'm sure most of you have heard of Zig Ziglar... Read More
Questions come my way all the time regarding my God-given... Read More
The Productive Environment Scorecard?Read the statements below and rate your... Read More
Life with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) can be a constant... Read More
Home organization means being able to find your stuff when... Read More
One of the hardest things for most individuals working from... Read More
Are you plagued by clutter in your personal or professional... Read More
Spring is such a refreshing time- we are filled with... Read More
I followed my boss to a co-worker's cubicle where my... Read More
The word "compartmentalize" means to separate into distinct parts. I... Read More
How do you know if you need to clean out?... Read More
Often we are in overwhelm because we are holding too... Read More
Balance- what a popular topic these days! Finding a work-life... Read More
The summer is flying by for Cindy and her family.... Read More
When I tell people what a FREEING experience moving is,... Read More
I'm sure most of you have heard of Zig Ziglar... Read More
Back-to-school time ? what does that mean to you? For... Read More
In a speech entitled "Organized Living in a Disorganized World"... Read More
Obviously, productivity involves producing. Producing widgets, events, reports, sales. The... Read More
1. The Law of the 1st StepA good first step... Read More
I'm cheap and proud of it.I use and re-use things... Read More
I know I have a problem when I have to... Read More
The following procedures will insure an organized and well run... Read More
Digging out from under stacks of paper might seem like... Read More
The Productive Environment Scorecard?Read the statements below and rate your... Read More
After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur and a... Read More
Nature loves clutter. Just think of all the stuff that... Read More
We are bombarded with so many factors that perpetuate disorganization.... Read More
Do you like storing your papers on top of your... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of organizing your home? Start... Read More
? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the "stuff" in... Read More
(This is the third in a series of three articles... Read More
Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More
Whatever your clutter problem the answer is the same: make... Read More
You arrived on earth without clutter. Your parents and doting... Read More
Studies show that 80 percent of what we use comes... Read More
Often we are in overwhelm because we are holding too... Read More
If you have piles of paper all over your desk,... Read More
How do you know if you need to clean out?... Read More
So you've decided to get organized, but you just don't... Read More
Get Organized - Organization |