Are your employees very busy doing paperwork which is no longer necessary?

Questions to ask to answer this question:

Why are we collecting the data?
Where does the data go?
Who uses the information?
Even if we continue all or part of the process, what shortcuts can be taken?

Less Chaos for New Employees

Less Chaos for New Employees. Even the best new hires may flounder if they walk into a chaotic environment.

1. Discuss and set goals with the new hires and meet with them daily for the first few weeks.

Have them shadow a co-worker.

If you have various departments in your business, have them attend staff meetings or spend some time in each department so they can see the big picture.

Provide written procedures for repeated tasks.

5. Let them know who to go to for help if they are in a pinch or overwhelmed.

How to Become Your Own Best Friend

If you want to be a better friend to yourself…

1. Stop the guilt trip. Guilt is nothing but judgment about something you should have done or should be doing. Either clean up your act, or become happy with your current decisions. Feeling guilty is a complete waste of time.

2. Be true to yourself. Don’t betray yourself by saying yes when you need to say no. Your attitude will improve because you will be taking responsibility instead of trying to be a people pleaser.

3. Respect others enough to make them pull their weight. Speak to them about the situation and explain where you need help. Be prepared to deal with excessive pouting on their part as they try to guilt you into reverting to old ways.

Be kind to yourself. You can’t give to others what you can’t give to yourself.

Top 10 Reasons We Procrastinate

1. Fear of Failure
2. Feeling Overwhelmed
3. Avoidance
4. Low Self-Esteem
5. Undervaluing the Reward of Completion
6. Resentment
7. Low Priority
8. Perfectionism
9. Lazy
10. Lack of Commitment

11 Tips for Working More Effectively

1. Control interruptions. Limit visits and phone calls.
2. There are only three things you can do with a piece of paper. FAT - File it, Act on it or Toss it.
3. Keep only the project or papers you are working on out on your desk. Put away other files and papers.
4. Keep like items together and put everything back in its place.
5. Take breaks and relax every so often.
6. Doing one thing at a time will help you focus and get tasks done quicker.
7. Do not schedule 100% of your day. Leave at least 30% for interruptions.
8. Break projects into small, manageable tasks.
9. Do your most important tasks during your peak energy level time.
10. Determine your priorities before you start the day. Use the last 15 minutes of the day before to plan for tomorrow.
11. Write everything down. Appointments, ideas, phone numbers, people's names...everything.

Leadership Program and Organizing

I belong to the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce in Oregon. One of the many programs the Chamber offers is Cascade Leadership Program. I joined the program because I thought it would be a great way to meet people and network. It has been, but it is so much more!

How the program works is...on the second Thursday of each month, the group gathers at the Lebanon Boys and Girls Club. A business or businesses in the area sponsors for the day. We are provided with muffins and fruit to start out the day. Each month has a different theme. For example, yesterday was Public Safety Day. We spend the entire day. This is a two year program. Next year, we'll be planning the program for the freshman group coming in.

Back to Public Safety Day. We started out at the Lebanon Fire Department. We were given a presentation, learned about the Fire-Med program, among many other things and was given a tour of the facility, especially the trucks and equipment. Then, the highlght of the experience was getting to put on a fire helmet and being lifted 95 feet straight up in the air in the ladder truck! By the way, those helmets are heavy!

Then we traveled to Albany to the Linn County Sheriff's Dept. One of the Captains gave us a presentation about the Sheriff's Dept, a Detective told us about their Search and Rescue program and then we were served lunch. After lunch, we got an extensive tour of the 911/dispatching office and the jail. I am 40-something years old and have never been inside a jail so what an eye opening experience!

We completed the day with a trip to the Lebanon Police Dept. We were given the grand tour and was also given a demonstration of tazers.

You are probably asking...what does this have to do with organizing?

• I am impressed with last year's group and how well they have organized each day.


• I get to spend seven or eight hours with a group of business owners each month. We get to know each other really well!


• I get to meet people that I normally wouldn't meet if not for this program. I go home and send a thank you card to each person that has taken the time of their busy day to teach us. New contacts!


• I have gotten to know a group of people that cares about each other and wants to see each other succeed in business. We are happy to refer others to each other.


• I see some organized workspaces, some not-so-organized workspaces, and some that have been very creative with the limited space and resources they have. All the scenerios inspire me and help me to be more creative for my clients.