Improving Organizing Skills
Easy Steps to Organize Work, Increase Efficiency and Achieve More
Oct 24, 2009
Organizing is one of those skills that some people seem to have inherently. They did not take any courses to improve their skills, or read best-sellers on the subject, or hire a professional organizer to coach them. They simply have an intrinsic knack for seamlessly keeping their professional projects on track.
Organizing Skills Defined
Assessing the degree to which someone has strong organizing skills includes looking at whether that person does certain things on a regular basis. For example:
- Do they use all available resources efficiently?
- Do they file information in a logical and user-friendly manner?
- Are they a good delegator?
- Do they plan their work in advance to avoid last minute scrambling?
- Do they manage multiple priorities well?
- Do they have a back-up plan?
- Have they considered all alternatives, and anticipated possible set-backs?
If the answer to the above questions is mostly “no”, then chances are the respective individual has poor organizing skills, which is quite evident in their daily work and, most likely, in their personal life as well.
Become More Oranized by Planning the Work
Effective and organized people start by planning their work, what they need to accomplish, and by when. They think of required resources, including funding, people, tools, and support. They visualize what needs to be done in the most logical sequence, so that little time, if any, is wasted unnecessarily.
Gather Support to Be Successful
Discussing goals with those who may be in a position to assist is also a critical step in the process. Few people achieve everything on their own, with no support whatsoever, and if they do, they usually take longer to achieve those goals. Gathering support and ensuring that everyone benefits in the process is a win-win situation for all.
Delegate Tasks and Authority
Much has been said about delegating. It is one of the most important skills to have, yet many people have trouble doing it. Often times, it has to do with control or power issues, as many people have a hard time relinquishing control. The reality is that successful delegation must include handing over not just the actual tasks, but also part of the authority as well. When people feel empowered to make their own decisions, they take more pride in their work and the results show it.
Manage the Project
Staying organized means managing a project as efficiently as possible. This includes keeping track of multiple priorities and deadlines, watching budgets, ensuring resources are available as needed, having a contingency plan, and staying calm in the face of pressure and set-backs. It is also important to pay attention to the weakest links which sometimes include areas one has no control over or people in remote locations. Setting up a process to monitor progress against the plan will increase one’s chances of achieving their desired goals within the intended timeframe.
Although organizing may seem intimidating at first, it is important to remember this is a skill that can be improved very quickly with regular practice and a certain amount of coaching from a trusted mentor. There are also many free online resources that offer numerous tips and suggestions for developing and improving organizing skills.
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