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.
