Organize + Energize: Traits of a Disorganized Business. Part 2
Kristin MacRae, GoLocalProv Organizing Expert
Organize + Energize: Traits of a Disorganized Business. Part 2
Office supplies. Keep all excess office supplies organized and stored in one area of the office. Keep daily office supplies organized in drawer organizers. Keep what you need closest to you so when you need it, you can grab it in seconds without rifling through other items in your drawers.
Important questions to ask:
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• How much money has been wasted on ordering duplicate supplies?
• Do you have drawer organizers in your drawers to organize your daily supplies?
• How long does it take you to put your hand on something when you need it?
Desk clutter. When you have too much work material on your desk, it can be a distraction. Too many chatzkies on the desk, bookshelves full of books or binders that are no longer being utilized and bulletin boards full of useless information and papers taped to the wall. If you bring clients to your office, your clients will be more focused on the disorganization surrounding you at your desk than what you have to say.
Important questions to ask:
• Can you see the top of your desk?
• What types of systems are you working with at your desk?
• Does your desk clutter affect your efficiency and productivity?
• Does your desk clutter cause you to be distracted?
Lack of time management skills. You want to be more efficient and productive. If you are disorganized, the first thing you have to do is get organized and your time management skills will improve. Once the clutter is cleared and the office is organized, you will see clearer, be more focused and less distracted.
Important questions to ask:
• Do you find yourself showing up late to appointments or forgetting them all together?
• Are you returning client’s emails and phone calls in a timely manner?
• Are you utilizing to-do lists and your calendar?
• Is your disorganization holding you back from working at your best?
Can you relate to any of the above? Once you get organized, you will be more efficient and productive, less stressed, have more energy and people will have more confidence in you. Take your business to the next level just by getting organized.
5 Organizing Blunders
Not planning ahead
Getting organized is a process and you have to have a plan on how to conquer your project. You can’t tear apart an entire room all at once. You need to break the project down into small pieces. Plan to tackle your project in 3-hour increments. If you work longer than 3 hours at a time, you are setting yourself up for burnout. Plan ahead to try to avoid distractions and stay focused.
Click here for more tips on how to avoid distractions.
Purchasing the incorrect supplies
I know you are excited to get organized, but don’t rush out to the store and purchase products just because you like the way they look. Get organized first. Figure out what you need to contain, and then purchase your container to match the items you need it to hold.
Click here for more on choosing the right container.
Not letting others know about your system
Once you set up the organized system, you have to get everybody in your home on board. Show them the systems and how you are going to function with this system going forward. Label everything if you must, so everybody gets in the habit of putting items away. Remember, the simpler the system, the easier it’s going to be to maintain.
Need help creating those systems? Go here.
Not maximizing your space
Use every inch of space and use it well. Take everything out of the area you are organizing. You can’t get a clear visual of the space if it is filled with clutter. Shifting items around is not going to work.
Here are more tips on maximizing your space.
Repeatedly clearing spaces
You are creating more work for yourself if you continue to clear spaces once a month. Create a system and allow everything in your home to have its own place, and you will never have to clear a space again.
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on Mondays at 8:30am on www.talkstreamradio.com.
