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8 Tips to an Organized Office Space

In celebration of Small Business Month, here are eight tips from Professional Organizers in Canada on how to keep your small office or home office organized and efficient.
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In celebration of Small Business Month, here are eight tips from Professional Organizers in Canada on how to keep your small office or home office organized and efficient:

Choose the products, efficiency tips and time management tools that appeal to you:

- Implement a few ideas that make sense to you and the way you like to work, you'll be much more likely to use them if you're not forcing yourself to use an uncomfortable process.

- If you like things visible, use products to make them accessible while keeping them neat, such as a vertical sorter for files you want handy.

You know your style better than anyone -- don't get pushed into an alphabetical supply cupboard for a staff that functions best with visual cues.

Design a filing hierarchy (or have one made) that makes sense to your work and company:

- Use the language you would normally use, with familiar names -- keep it simple.

- Store paper materials, electronic files and emails using your tailor-made filing hierarchy and you'll find things where you expect them to be.

The simpler the system, the quicker and less taxing it is to use. Give your brain a break -- don't store information with one system for paper, another for electronic and yet another for emails -- constantly using the search function wastes your day, 30 seconds at a time.

Brand your office while you get organized:

- As you corral your materials in binders, bins or baskets be sure to buy them in your company colours.

- Display your media coverage, testimonials and products attractively.

We may not consciously recognize it, but this sends a very powerful message and it's a great way to take advantage of those marketing dollars you spend branding your businesses -- it's simple and inexpensive.

Take a picture of your office and study it objectively:

- Does it reflect the image you want to project to clients, colleagues and employees?

- Does it stimulate your creativity, motivate you and provide a haven where you can settle in comfortably to do your best work?

Taking a fresh look at your office with new eyes could be a catalyst for positive change.

Understand your document retention obligations:

- Ask your lawyer and accountant for a list of the documents you are legally obligated to keep.

- Have a clear retention policy so you can edit with confidence.

Avoid a build-up of obsolete documents because everyone is afraid to throw anything out -- set a clear policy for what needs to be kept, and what can be safely discarded.

Solve storage and layout problems:

- Does the glare on your computer screen make you reach for your sunglasses to type an email?

- Do you go to meetings without your marketing materials because they're in a cupboard behind that mountain of boxes that got dumped months ago?

Doing a simple analysis of how your office functions physically could save you thousands of dollars in time, supplies and equipment.

Your work space is the command centre for your work:

- Is there a logical flow (think of an assembly line) of work through the office?

- Do you have a place to work comfortably and efficiently on your projects, or are you cramped into a corner of your space?

Take a tip from Feng Shui practice -- have your work environment reflect respect for you and your work.

Gather employees to discuss organization challenges:

- Is there a line-up to use a piece of equipment?

- Does the workspace provide physical safety and an atmosphere conducive to concentration?

We can learn from the principles of lean manufacturing and encourage input from front-line workers to improve productivity and eliminate the waste of time and resources.

For more information on Professional Organizers in Canada or to find a professional organizer in your area, visit the POC website.

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