6. Create a file folder for each month of year. Be sure to label each folder with month and year, or by name of particular account. Collect bill stubs and sales slips and put in appropriate folder. File in same drawer as bank statements.

7. Review insurance and investment notices, noting any changes or transactions. Premiums have a way of increasing over time.

8. Create a separate file folder for bill stubs, canceled checks and any other documentation needed to support your tax return if you itemize your tax returns. File it anyway if you are not sure. You will gain confidence and knowledge in what to keep and what to throw away. Remember, organization is being able to find what you want when you want it, get things done, and be in control of your life. If you are going to keep something, give it a home, label it with a common sense heading, and keep all records/folders in one location. Otherwise, feed your trash can.

© 2002, Susan W. Miller, All Rights Reserved

If person you are talking to agrees that you heard accurately, great! If they say, “No, what I said was…” – believe them. Don’t argue or come back with, “That is too what you said.” It is amazing how many times individuals I am working with in communication skills will argue with their partner about what partner said or meant! We all have a tendency to distort somewhat based on our own experiences. That is why reflecting back what we thought we heard is important.

4)Ask open-ended questions about content or information being shared. Open-ended questions cannot be answered with “yes” or “no”. They invite speaker to give you more information and to expand on what they are saying. Open-ended questions often start with “how” or “what”, or “tell me more…”

5)Try to imagine how person you are talking to feels about what they are talking about. This is a skill called “empathy” and is essential for close, meaningful conversation. Share back your sense of how information is impacting them, such as, “That must make you happy.” Or, “It must be hard for you when that happens.” Connecting on an emotional level shows you are listening and truly understand them.

If you practice these five steps faithfully, you will be amazed at how much better your relationships will become both at home and at work.