| We don’t all stay on top of things as much as | | | | Even better, suggest to your office administrator |
| we like, and sometimes our offices suffer. Have you | | | | that such memos be sent via email or posted in the |
| ever had a customer or co-worker drop in for an | | | | employee break room. |
| impromptu meeting, only to find your desk covered | | | | * De-clutter. Take an inventory of boxes you have |
| in papers, memos and sandwich wrappers? | | | | stacked in the corner or under your desk, old files |
| In today’s hustle-and-bustle work climate we | | | | piled on the corner of your file cabinet and even the |
| tend to accumulate far more work/projects than we | | | | knick-knacks you have sitting around. Hint: Throw |
| can possibly finish off in the foreseeable future. | | | | away as much as you can! |
| Unfortunately, clutter and disorganization are not only | | | | * Filing System. Keeping all your projects organized |
| eye-sores, but they can also be breeding grounds for | | | | can become overwhelming if you don’t separate |
| germs, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean | | | | each project into an individually labeled file folder. |
| by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. | | | | Once organization has taken place, a file rack can |
| So here are some tips compiled by Pletz and | | | | become useful. They allow easy access to projects |
| co-worker Jaime Ross to help you keep on top of | | | | without requiring that you search through stacks of |
| the workload – and keep your office looking | | | | papers or rustle through a file cabinet. Once you |
| great at the same time. | | | | complete the project file, the folder in your regular |
| * Email. Don’t print hard copies of emails as a | | | | file cabinet. If you can file it electronically, however, |
| reminder for a task you have yet to complete. | | | | through the paper pile away. |
| Instead, “flag” the item for follow-up in your | | | | * Deep Cleaning. Take a look around your office. Do |
| email system. This nifty feature allows you to quickly | | | | you have an accumulation of dust? Ever wonder why |
| scan through emails, answering ones that can be | | | | the cleaning company hasn’t rid your desk of |
| immediately resolved while flagging the ones that | | | | those pesky dust bunnies? Well, it’s because |
| require more time/research to review them later. Get | | | | most cleaning companies do not clean desktops that |
| in the habit of reviewing your flagged emails each | | | | are covered in paperwork. Take a few moments to |
| morning. Once you complete a task, simply un-flag it | | | | neatly clear your desktop of all the paperwork and |
| and file it in the appropriate system folder. | | | | leave a note on your door/desk that says |
| * Office Inbox. Your office inbox can sometimes | | | | “Please Clean Me.” |
| seem as if it grows by the hour. I’m sure you | | | | It’s important to keep on top of things in the |
| have seen memos like “New Office Supply | | | | office and take full control – before they take |
| Vendor” or “New Vending Machines in the | | | | control of you. And with a little forethought and a bit |
| Break Room” memos circulating around to all | | | | of work, keeping a tidy, successful workplace is a lot |
| staff. They should be immediately tossed or filed. | | | | easier than you might think. |