Organization

Not everybody is organized - some people just aren't. But keeping your schedule and your workspace orderly and systematized is the only way you’re going to be able to get your job done properly and be as effective as you can be.

Being disorganized can be so overwhelming that you don’t know where to start to clean it up, and in many cases, you just won’t do it; you’ll walk away and do something else. This simply perpetuates the cycle. Break it down into smaller manageable pieces and do it in stages. But don’t put it off.

Start getting organized and you'll see results:

• A place for everything. Create a system to "file" everything, whether it be physical items, books and papers or electronic information. Invest in filing cabinets, storage boxes or bookcases and label them. If you don't have the time or the discipline, or even the skills, find an assistant or a colleague to partner with you.
• Become more efficient. Looking for misplaced items wastes time and reduces your productivity. If your office is stacked so high with piles of stuff so that you can’t see your desk, or there’s such a mess in your truck that you can’t see the floor, then you won’t be able to find anything when you need it, and definitely won’t be able to get the job done efficiently. There’ll be people who will tell you they can always find what they need in their disorganization, but it’s not beneficial or productive.
• Clean work area. Take the time to clean up your stuff! Organize it, put it away, or get rid of it, if it’s not necessary to keep. You’ll be able to focus on the job at hand if that’s all you have in your line of sight.
• Reduces stress. Seeing the disorganization of your “stuff” has a negative impact on your mind. Clutter and unfinished projects can make you feel overwhelmed, tired or depressed. Not only can being organized reduce your stress, but it might also allow you to work more energetically.
• Saves you time. Having everything organized and at your fingertips will save you time when working on any project and allow you to use that time for other projects or for a much-needed break.

Identify the areas where you feel you need help in getting organized, whether it’s with your workspace, your filing system or your appointment calendar. Get books or look for articles on the Internet that address those specific needs; you’ll find tips, ideas and guides that can “change your life.” Decluttering can be cathartic and free you up to do things you would never have thought you had time for.

Organizing the things around you will reduce your stress and improve the amount of control you feel you have in your work and life. You certainly won’t be a leading example for anyone on your team if you or your workspace looks disorganized.

The above content is extracted from Mike Holt's Leadership Skills textbook.

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Mike Holt is an author, businessman, educator, speaker, publisher and National Electrical Code? expert. He has written hundreds of electrical training books and articles, founded three successful businesses, and has taught thousands of electrical code seminars across the US and internationally. His company, Mike Holt Enterprises, has been serving the electrical industry for over 40 years, creating and publishing books, DVDs, online training and curriculum support for electrical trainers, students, organizations, and electrical professionals. 

Mike has devoted his career to studying and understanding the National Electrical Code and finding the easiest, most direct way to share that knowledge with others. He has taught over 1,000 classes on over 40 different electrical-related subjects to tens of thousands of students. His knowledge of the subject matter, coupled with his dynamic and animated teaching style, has made him sought after from companies like Generac, IAEI, IBEW, ICBO, NECA, and Fortune 500 companies such as IBM, Boeing, Motorola, and AT&T. He is a contributing Editor for Electrical Construction and Maintenance Magazine (EC&M) and formerly Construction Editor to Electrical Design and Installation Magazine (EDI). His articles have been seen in CEE News, Electrical Contractor (EC) International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI News), The Electrical Distributor (TED) and Power Quality Magazine (PQ).