Scott Martin

“I can never get anything done at the office.”  How many times have heard this?    The main issue I have noticed from people that say this is that they are not organized.  They are consistently playing catch-up all day long and not being proactive in getting things accomplished.   I have found that getting to work early and taking this time in the morning and after working hours to plan and wrap up each day is crucial to an organized work place.  The time before works starts lets me review my e-mail and plan out my day.  The time after work spent allows me to reflect on what did or did not get done and adjust accordingly. 

Waiting until 8:00 to start planning the day does not work as that is when the phones start ringing and the interruptions can start.  To be productive you must be organized.  During a hectic day it is possible to become a bit scattered and that is why the extra time at the end of the day to put things back in order is crucial for the next day’s start.

As leaders it is imperative to set good examples for peers and direct reports.  Leading by example is a very effective way of making your team a more productive organization.  If they see you putting in the extra time to be organized then likely they will too.