Organize your Office- Seven Solutions

1. Create a filing system with broad categories such as "Insurance" and then break those categories down further into sub-categories (i.e., car, life, medical), alphabetizing them along the way. Devote one file drawer to each category (if possible) and use a different color for each category.

2. Create a file index for you and anyone else needing to access your files. A file index is basically a user-friendly guide to where each file is located. So if you are looking for an insurance claim, the entry in your file index may look like this: (I call it my Bible-do not lose!)

Insurance Claims- Insurance (I-10)

3. To minimize interruptions of your own time and others, schedule a 5-minute meeting somewhere during the day with the people you most often need to speak with. This prevents the frequent knocking at your door you may experience! Let others know when you are available to meet with them, perhaps between 3-4 PM, for example. Ask your boss for 5 minutes of his/her time everyday to go over any questions you may have, eliminating the need for constant interruptions. (Tip-this works great with spouses also! No more, "Honey, can I just ask you to do this one thing?" Or calling him/her at the office to find out when to pick up the kids. Daily meetings are much appreciated by all!)

4. Resist the need to answer your phone every time it rings. Use your voice mail when you are working on something.

5. Prevent phone tag and wasted time on the phone. When returning phone calls, gather all the information you need BEFORE you make the call. See if there is another person who can answer your question, instead of having to wait around for a response.

6. Sort your incoming paper daily and decide what you need to do with each piece of paper. Set up a tickler file to corral these to-dos. A tickler is a 1-31 file with dividers for each day of the month and months of the year. So, if you have a memo with a phone number of someone you need to call back, put that paper in the tickler on a day you can return the call.

7. Use templates and forms anytime you can. So if people come into your office often to borrow something, instead of having them leave a note, keep a stack of "Borrowed Item Forms" for them to fill-in-the-blank and leave for you in a designated location.

Rebekah Slatkin is a professional organizer dedicated to getting people organized through hands-on decluttering sessions, teleconferencing, coaching, and her website http://www.best-organizing-products-supers tore.com Visit http://www.best-organizing-products-supers tore.com and subscribe to Organewz, her ezine dedicated to organized living and get organizing tips- free

---

The Golden Key to Meeting Success

We all attend many meetings. I'm sure you have been to some great meetings and some poor ones. Unfortunately for everyone I've ever talked to, the number... Read More

Boost Your Leadership Skills By Disciplining Yourself In The Way Of The Question Mark

I'm often asked to come in to organizations and give a motivational speech to their employees. I reply that I'm not a motivational speaker. Never have been.... Read More

Weaknesses of Wishing

When you're starting a business, you might wish for a lot of things, like having more than enough customers or not having to do marketing. But wishing... Read More

More Computer Consulting 101 Hiring Tips (Part 2 of 2)

Does your company need to retain the services of a competent computer consulting firm, but you have no idea how to really evaluate "competence"? In the first... Read More

10 Fundamentals for Effective Meeting

Here are ten fundamental concepts that characterize an effective meeting.Definition: A meeting is a business activity where select people gather to perform work that requires a team... Read More

Think it Over

You can't solve a problem with the same thinking that created it. Albert Einstein Every decision is a deliberate act. It's the result... Read More

The Diamond Cutter

Geshe Michael Roach is a Princeton graduate and a Buddhist monk. After graduation, he spent seven years studying the wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism. At the suggestion of... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Creating a Culture of Empowerment

This article relates to the Culture & Climate competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. AlphaMeasure defines climate as the effect an organization has on the employees,... Read More

Entitlement Programs Kill Productivity

In articles I've written over the years, I have used "laissez-faire," a term more frequently used to characterize governments than businesses, to describe a rather laid-back management... Read More

The Dripping Faucet in Every Organization

Each day millions of workers spend 8 hours or more at their respective jobs with many contributing to the dripping faucet within every organization. This faucet much... Read More

Guidelines For Conducting A Good Meeting

Okay, so you've figured out what kind of meeting is needed, you've planned well and you have all the right materials. How about the meeting itself? How... Read More

Demise of the Lone Ranger Manager: A Lesson in Management Communication Style

When executives see themselves as solely responsible for the overall success of their enterprise, subordinates can hardly be blamed for acting according to predictions.Let's look at a... Read More

Culture Management and Creativity

Many concepts in the fields of managing creativity are very much applicable to culture management in general. The same concepts that foster creativity and innovation also maximise... Read More

Executive Performance -- Whos to Blame for Incompetent Managers?

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal raised the question: Who's to blame for inept managers?The answer, of course, is the superiors who hire or promote... Read More

What is Six Sigma?

Six Sigma is a highly disciplined process focused on satisfying customers by delivering nearly perfect products and services. In today's competitive market, consistently maintaining satisfied customers is... Read More

Success: A Wholistic Perspective

The world has always been mixed with the rich, the poor and the middle ground. Should we assume that if you make more and more... Read More

Mantra for Managers

What do organizations look for in a prospective employee with special reference to fresh MBA graduates? The two key assets that an organization looks for is the... Read More

Accountability Equals Meeting Success

Leslie was the new manager of the group. She was replacing Tom, a well respected manager who was retiring. Once she arrived, she made it one of... Read More

Maximizing Sales through the Ultimate Tracking Software

Every small to mid-sized business owner would love to know how to effectively keep a pulse on their marketing and customer service efforts. The common barrier that... Read More

How To Decrease Downtime and Increase Productivity

All maintenance activities of the workforce must be documented, this includes breakdown repairs, callouts, preventive maintenance, replacement maintenance, overhauls, and Testing & Inspection work. Maintenance work by... Read More

Hire Winners: Avoid These 10 Interview No-No?s

Have you ever hired someone who did not live up to expectations? I'm sure many of us have at one time. The purpose of the interview is... Read More

Five Strategies for Profitable Services Growth

In today's era of Professional and IT Services competition and consolidation, some small to medium-sized companies are proudly delivering 20%-50% annual growth.Unfortunately, the vast majority of firms... Read More

Why Soft Skills?

The industrial age is over. Organizations still stuck in the industrial age business models are going out of business very fast. Technology is only as good as... Read More

OJT - On The Job Training

IntroductionManagers have two powerful ways of improving the performance and productivity of their subordinates, which are counseling and on the job training.Counseling is the process of helping... Read More

Why You Should Hold One More Meeting

If you are completely happy with where you and your business currently are then you can stop here. If growth and change aren't something you have any... Read More

Make the Most of Your Time - Focus on Strengths

Once working and focused in tune with what they do best, your people are freed up to deliver their very best performances. They encourage others to work... Read More