The Efficient and Effective Office

Recently Kerri Smith mentioned to me that a colleague of hers wished to be cloned in order to take on more business.  I instantly wanted to know who this person was, why he or she felt this way and if he or she really wanted more business.  I guarantee that this individual could have tons more business with a more effective and efficient workspace and with a few simple changes to his or her work methods. 

Feel free to ask Kerri about this very subject…she’ll gladly share with you some of the free tips (oh and did I mention incredibly easy tips?) that have made a big impact on her day-to-day life.  You don’t need a clone, what you do need is to be able to work as quickly, easily and effectively as you can.  

If you still feel overworked after making changes, it may be a sign that your business is ready for a growth spurt.  Needing to hire help is a great “problem” to have!  It means you are doing something right and people want your service or product.  Just make sure you hire someone who works as efficiently and effectively as you’re about to! 

Are you sitting in your office or workspace right now?  Take a look around.  What do you see?  Now take a peek at the tips below and see if any changes can be made in your space for big impact:

• Post-It Note Overload?  Try using a carbon copy phone message book instead.  You’ll have all messages in one location and when you’re done with note just throw out the top copy while still retaining pertinent information.
• In-Box or Overflowing Box?  Use a shallow “in box” to avoid a black hole on your desktop. 
• Has Anybody Seen My Stapler?  Free consultation if you can name the movie that question is from!  Keep only one stapler, one or two pens, one tape dispenser, etc. on or near the desktop.  Extra office supplies should be stored together in another location away from your workspace. 
• Clean Up Time.   Organizing your workspace several times during the day will immediately eliminate clutter and prevent build-up.
• Label, Label, Label.  Label all folders, files, CDs clearly.  In fact, label everything!
• File, File, File.  Only active or working files should be on your desk.  File anything else away in your neatly labeled files!
• Endless Evaluating.  Constantly evaluate everything you bring into your workspace.  Do you need it?  Do you use it?  Is it just taking up precious usable space and time?
• To Do or Not To Do?  Make a “To Do List” everyday.
• Email Madness!  Remove yourself from lists that take up your time and don’t help you build your business.  (Even remove yourself from this list if it’s not helping you – I got permission to say that!)  Check and reply only during designated times.  Take care of emails immediately by either replying, delegating to someone else, or scheduling to respond at a later date (this would be for emails that need more than a minute or two of attention).  Set-up individual folders to organize and sort emails.  

Jessica Dolan really is a professional organizer and owns Room to Breathe Home & Office Organizing.   Feel free to check out www.roomtobreathe.us for a full service listing or contact her at jessicadolan@roomtobreathe.us or 814.360.1063.  She looks forward to helping you create room to breathe!