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If you discovered that your job security depended upon how
organized your work area was, your reaction could range from complete composure
to sheer terror. Few business
professionals have never uttered, “One day, I really need to get organized.”
But purging files, choosing computer software, evaluating systems
updating a Rolodex, or tackling piles of unread journals frequently gets pushed
to the bottom of your list of priorities while you handle today’s crisis. The way your office is organized does affect your
productivity. Take sales, for
instance, where organization can be money in the bank.
If your follow-up system doesn’t work, you could let an opportunity go
right down the drain. Small businesses are extremely susceptible to the
consequences of poor organization. In
most cases, the owner is so busy doing so much, particularly on the creative end
of the business, that he or she either doesn’t have the time or the
inclination to concentrate on organization. Suddenly, one day, the disorganization has turned to chaos
and can threaten the future of the business.
In the current economic client, big businesses are becoming more
susceptible as they try to do more with less. Many times, people confuse organization with neatness.
But I have known many “neat” people who are not organized and vice
versa. Others confuse organization
with efficiency. Efficiency is the
mechanics of doing something. But
the real issue is effectiveness-asking “Should I be doing this at all?”
My definition of “organized” is very simple: “Does it work?” and
“Do I like it?” If what you do
affects other people, you need to as a third question, “Does it work for
everyone?” Finding the time to get organized never seems to get top
priority. There’s not an
immediate, visible consequence of not doing it, but if that report isn’t
turned in on time, there is one. Very
few people in the work force can justify taking the time or attention away from
business. As a result papers just
get shuffled from one side of the desk to the other or stuck into a file drawer
or on another computer disk for later. Or
you miss out on a big sale because you make the follow-up call one day late. Another major stumbling block to getting organized for many
people is not knowing what to do. For
example, at convention speeches, I frequently ask, “How many of you left your
office with more pieces of paper lying around that you would prefer?”
Most of the hands are raised. When
asked what is keeping them from solving the problem someone inevitably says “I
don’t know where to start.” There are so many questions about where to put papers,
deciding what to keep or what should go into the computer.
Unfortunately, in our society, there’s nothing in our educational
system that teaches us this specific skill.
So, we continue to struggle without the skills, which, in fact, are
really quite teachable. But sometimes even when people have the time and skills to improve their organization, they often balk at the process. They lack the motivation because they don’t realize the price they pay for not doing it, or they’re afraid they will have to give up their individual style in order to “get organized.” But once people understand they don’t have to become “neatniks”, they become much more enthusiastic. Contrary to some people’s fear, organization is not the opposite of creativity. Organization in and of itself is of no value. It’s a tool you use to help you get done what is most important in the least stressful way. So... |
