Organizing Your Office for Maximum Efficiency Written by Kate Smalley
Do you have stacks files piled up all over your office? Are you constantly rearranging project deadlines? Have you been passed over for promotions or projects when you knew you could do job? Are you costing your company time and money because of misplaced files or documents?If your answer is "yes" then it's time to get organized. The Cost of Being Disorganized Being disorganized eats up time, which equals money. For example, if your secretary wastes precious time going through her work to get to her work, he or she can lose (conservatively) 30 minutes each day. If his/her salary annual salary is $30,000, time wasted will cost your company about $1,500 in lost productivity. That translates into about 25 cents per minute. Or relate that to your salary: If you gross $90,000 each year, your time is worth 75 cents per minute. If you lose 30 minutes every day looking for your work, you’ll cost your company $4,500 per year in lost productivity. Disorganization also can undermine your company’s credibility. In business, first impressions are important. A work environment that is poorly organized and cluttered, will project a negative image to your existing and potential customers. Tips Easy Ways to Get Organized Realize that you didn’t become disorganized overnight, and you won’t undo it in a day. But here are some strategies to help you get started: Get a good desk. This doesn't necessarily mean an expensive desk, but one that is right for your personal work habits, business activities and other daily needs. If you regularly refer to books, manuals or publications, a desk with an upright hutch would make sense. Or if you use a computer and have ample floor space, consider an L-shaped desk. You can keep your computer on one section and still have a large workspace on other. This configuration allows you to avoid juggling two priorities on same desktop. Mange your time better. One of simplest ways to make better use of your time is to rethink how long tasks will actually take, and schedule accordingly. Envision yourself completing a task from start to finish and what actions you must take. Until you get more accurate at estimating, add 25% to time you think you'll need to complete a certain task. Another way to realize actual time is to time yourself while you do different things, such as paying bills, balancing checkbook or going to post office. You might be surprised to find out how long things actually take. Make notes on how long each task takes so you can remember to allow ample time.
| | Let's Talk About TrustWritten by Nan S. Russell
I agree with Brooker T. Washington, "Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him." I agree with Mr. Washington because I've experienced trust. I've been on both giving and receiving side of equation, and I know first hand power of trust.That's what trust is. It's power. Power to transform an ordinary, everyday, OK place to work, into an environment where people are almost unstoppable. Power to unleash creativity, commitment, enthusiasm, and fun. Power to bring out energy, talents and gifts of individuals, to build teams, to achieve amazing results. Look around your organization. There's some division or department or work unit or team that's like that ... some pocket of excellence where people shine, ideas flourish, and exceptional work is achieved. That's where trust is. People work for people, not for companies. And no one needs permission to create his or her own pocket of excellence. Trust is not about them giving it to us. Trust is an action we can take. We start trust by giving trust. But, simple behaviors diminish it. The first question I ask when a staff member shows up in my office to tell me a tale of woe about a co-worker is a simple one: "Have you talked to them?" I can count on one hand how many times in twenty years of managing that someone said yes. Ninety-nine percent of time, person who is offending party was never told about issue before it was escalated to management. Will co-worker feel betrayed? I did when a peer went to my boss without giving me a chance to address their concerns, or informing me there even was an issue. Was trust diminished? You can bet on that one.
|
