For many, figuring out how to organiz your small business activities can be overwhelming. Papers pile up, sticky notes multiply, vendors or clients need immediate attention, and emails compound flooding your inbox faster than you can sort through them. If you are like most of us, we focus on ONE thing before attacking the next item on our list (you have created checklist, right).
Follow Part 3 and watch your efficiency increase.
3. An Organized Workspace
Everything You Need Nearby
Make a mental note of what you touch most often. Then rearrange and keep these items at your desk or on your computer desktop. Boom! You increased your efficiency that easily.
Everything You Don’t Move To A New Home
While you took a note of what you use most often, I bet you realized what you don’t use often. Move it somewhere else to reduce your distraction. Just don’t move the important non work essentials, like you photos or a few things that show your personality. Note, anything not touched in more than 2 months, does. It belong on your desk and should be moved to a new location in your office or storage.
Declutter Files
This goes for both paper files computer files. We all do it. Have stacks of paper on our desk. This stack is for sales and the other stack is all from Vendor A. Stop. Think. Categorize. Start a filing system. Start as easy as separating into as little as 4 categories. Separate by project type or by client. Separate by urgent (due today), normal (due this week) or low ( due this month) and shuffle accordingly. Once you are done, toss what you don’t need to track or deem essential. As far as emails, take it a step further and limit your time checking emails or set a time limit to respond to emails.
Thanks for reading my 3 part on saving time and getting your small business on track to success. Remember keep it simple. Don’t overcomplicate things. If you find yourself getting lost. Step back and take a breath. Remember keep it simple and try it again. Repeat as neccesary and watch your desk and business be organized.