You simply mark in your calendar date you wish to take action and what action will be (ex: September 5, Marketing Seminar at Hilton) then you make an ?H? next to what you?ve written, which is a visual indicator that information pertaining to this event is living in your Holding file. The key to using your Holding file effectively is that you must use it in conjunction with your calendar. It?s a dual system: note in calendar reminds you of action you need to take, and ?H? next to note reminds you of where details of information are being stored. Once action is taken, remove physical information from Holding file and either file it or throw it away.

Some examples of what to keep in a Holding file:

·Airline tickets and itineraries ·Event or seminar invitations ·Directions to events ·Letters to follow-up on ·Auto tag registration

In short, your Holding file is a temporary home for anything with an action deadline either in near or distant future. The system gives you a way to safely put things out of your mind until it?s necessary to think of them again, thereby freeing your mind up to focus on your immediate priorities.

Monica Ricci has been an organizing specialist since 1999, and her motivational presentations teach effective organizing and simplifying techniques for home and work. She also offers free email tips and ideas on how to make life simpler and more organized. Her topics include clutter control, paper management, time management, organizing space and procrastination.Contact Monica at 770-569-2642 or Monica@CatalystOrganizing.com.

6.Take an entire department to a sporting event during week. Most major league ballparks hold businessperson?s special day games mid-week. Pay extra money to have your company?s name and a list of attendant employees scrolled on big screen too. People love to see their name in lights.

7.Go to a trophy shop and have a trophy made for ?Outstanding Performer Of The Month? to offer to employee who has closed most new accounts that month. Each month, person who wins trophy can display it in their office for month. Next month, when new winner is announced, current trophy-holder must ?pass it on? to new winner with a small, lighthearted congratulatory ceremony in front of rest of department. This creates friendly competition for those who want to have trophy in their office for month.

8.Partner with vendors or clients to create sponsored rewards. For example, if your client is a sporting goods distributor, arrange to have them sponsor your company picnic by giving away a gift certificate good for $500 of sporting equipment to one employee. Announce winner and present certificate with a handshake at company picnic. By getting it sponsored, or partially sponsored, you don?t have to pay full price for it, but employee still gets a great reward for performance.

9.Buy four $100 gift certificates to one of nicest restaurants in town and each quarter, reward one to employee who has put most heart into their work, or most exemplified company?s vision and mission. Have staff vote for one of their peers each quarter via a closed ballot box.

10.Surprise a star employee or a whole department by taking them to lunch or dinner on company?s dime. People build relationships over food. Dining together can be a good time to create bonds outside workplace that will benefit company inside workplace.

Whatever rewards or incentives you decide to do, be sure to give praise and recognition publicly. It?s nice to hear ?great job? in private, however, rewards will be much sweeter if you let others know that someone in company has done something great. Publish staff awards in company newsletter and on your website. The reward in itself is a plus, but adding public recognition aspect will make it even more motivating for your staff to keep striving for more.

Monica Ricci has been an organizing specialist since 1999, and her motivational presentations teach effective organizing and simplifying techniques for home and work. She also offers free email tips and ideas on how to make life simpler and more organized. Her topics include clutter control, paper management, time management, organizing space and procrastination.Contact Monica at 770-569-2642 or Monica@CatalystOrganizing.com.