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To
every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose
under the heaven.-- Ecclesiastes 3:1
Let's talk about
organizing for the upcoming year. The timing is perfect.
Start the process.
Scrutinize those
areas for which you have responsibility; your desk,
office, projects, clients/constituents and overall business.
Remember, clutter breeds confusion and inefficiency.
Clear your workspaces of old project files; last year's
reports; outdated publications (the one's you'll never
read anyway); old receipts, memos -- anything that is
not immediately useful or necessary.
Box up those things
which need to be stored. Discard those items which are
broken and cannot be repaired. And, clean - do it yourself
or request your housekeeping staff do an extra thorough
job. Dust your shelves; wipe down your equipment; give
the break room a deep cleaning. Encourage staff and team
members to clear and clean their workspaces as well.
Visual cues are very
powerful. You want things to "look" new to your
eyes and to the eyes of your office mates and visitors. This
will alter your perceptions about your work environment. (Does
your workspace state that it houses a team that is sharp,
focused and efficient or does it convey that you are sloppy,
careless and lazy?) Getting great results does not have to
be expensive. It can be as simple as updating or rearranging
art and display shelves.
Renew
your mind.
Decide individually and
as a team what your goals are for the year; examine all critical
areas. Now, take the same approach you used to organize your
physical space to clear the mental clutter.
Review processes, forms,
vendors and organizations to see how they support the achievement
of your goals. Then purge, repair or revive each. If two reports
can be consolidated, merge them. If a meeting can be replaced
by sending a group memo, just do it. Clearing out clutter
will benefit you because it creates space for something new
and frees up time for more critical activities. For example,
if there is a professional organization that you have outgrown,
consider joining another group that better fits your current
needs. You may expand your circle of contacts and find yourself
professionally invigorated.
This month, get your
house in order and enjoy a clutter-free and focused New Year!
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