Lots of great ladies again at this luncheon and some new faces have joined us!

Darla Pompilio of Your Tasks, Our Time was our featured speaker and organization was the topic – a topic many of us were in need of tips. She was full of great advice and even offered 2 prizes for lucky members to receive her services.

Listed below are some notes from her presentation.

General
• Organization most important factor in good work habits
• Majority of people can’t see their desks
• Increase productivity 1-2 hours a day by being organized
• Figuring $15/hour the cost of being unorganized (time spent looking for or re-doing things, etc) about $2400 a year wasted – PER employee
• 2 Key Areas to discuss today
o Papers/Filing
o Email
• To Determine the type of system you will use decide: What you need & how you think
• Practice using the system
• Take time to get used to it and MAKE IT A HABIT

Paper/Filing
o Block out time to sort/organize
o If it’s a large project break it down
o Start with the things that bug you the most
o Have supplies ready (bins, file folders…etc)
o Decide what works best for you – To do
 Box
 Folder
 List
o Make 3 piles (do not think further than that in this step)
 Keep
 Recycle
 Shred
o Keep pile will be sorted again too
 To Do
 Delegate
 Defer (this will be sorted into your tickler file, an accordion file with 1-31 for days of the month)
 Filing
o To Do file/box/list should be empty at the end of the day
o File – empty the file box/folder weekly

Email – Two Types
o Reference
 This should be moved to appropriate file
o Action
 Put on to do list or into Action folder
 OR DO
o Block out specific time to tend to email – Do Not be on all day
o Keep file titles short and clear so that you remember what is where and what goes where

Over All Office/Organization Tips
• Have
o Good Chair
o Good Furniture
o Good Light (natural as much as possible)
• Only Active items you are working on should be ON your desk
• Files should be within reach
• Use Wireless or hide cords
• Put electronics (modem/routers) off desk and out of sight
• Be Patient, Flexible & Consistent when getting started