Getting Organized: It’s Not About the Stuff

My phone rings.  It’s a potential client who would like help being more productive in her office.  I ask what’s going on in her office, and she tells me there is paper everywhere.  She is looking at stacks of paper, binders, magazines, and other things that are visually cluttering her space.

Obviously, all this stuff is certainly a problem, but what’s really going on here?  When I probe about her work habits and daily routines, the real issues begin to arise.  She has no plan for the day.  She routinely allows phone calls and email coming in to distract her from her priorities.  The real issue here is not the stuff.  It’s her behavior.

The clutter in her office is a product of a lack of systems and routines.  Now that the clutter has taken over it certainly is a problem, but if we just clear up the paper, it’s highly likely that it will be back in short order.  The key to getting organized is changing the behavior that has gotten you into the situation in the first place.

So, how do we change behavior?  There is no easy answer to this question, but here are some ideas to help you get started:

1. Create self awareness.  While coaching my clients, I help them to begin noticing phrases they are using or things they are doing that could be contributing to the problem.  You can do this by simply noticing some of your thought patterns as you work.  Do you think things like “I’ll just put this here for now” or ???  Do you do things like answer the phone every single time it rings or check email each time a notification comes in?  Once you begin to notice some patterns that are causing the clutter and lack of productivity you can begin to develop new habits that will help you to break the cycle of your past behaviors.




2. Work with your natural tendencies.  As you are noticing your behavior, it’s also a good idea to pay attention to what is going on when you’re at your best.  What I mean is that all of us are different.  We all have different times of day that we are most productive.  We have different work styles and personalities.  The idea behind getting organized and being more productive is to find what works best for you and incorporate that into all you do.  For example, if you discover that the best time for writing is early morning, your new routine may be to begin hard scheduled appointments a little later in the day.  This will allow you the time in the morning to be creative and get that writing done.




3. Identify your motivation.  Why do you want to be more organized and productive?  Do you want to be able to find documents when you need them?  Do you want to grow your business?  Is someone else pressuring you to change?  Answering the question “Why do I really want to be more organized and productive” is one of the most important first steps in the organizing process.  Without that ultimate goal, or vision, you have no motivation for real change.

There are so many factors that can influence your success.  If you truly want to get organized so that you can have a better life, at home or in the office, you can do it!  Just remember that you must be willing to change both your environment and, most importantly, your habits.  Have an ultimate goal in mind and go for it!

Happy Organizing!

Ellen Martin

PS – If you are struggling with an overflowing inbox, email that just won’t stop, and unproductive days, the Conquer Chaos Strategy Session will help you get clear on why you really want to get organized and develop a plan to make it happen and stay that way.  Together we’ll determine why you really want to be organized and what’s standing in your way. During our strategy session, we’ll review your assessment, quickly break down your barriers to being organized and develop a personalized organizing plan that works for you.  To find out more visit http://anewleafpo.com/conquer-chaos-strategy-session/

9 Responses to “Getting Organized: It’s Not About the Stuff”

1. Get Clear Goals with Lynn Moore says:

   August 6, 2010 at 4:01 pm

   Ellen these points are so good. What I find challenging is when I get an organization pattern off and working, suddenly things change and I have to re-arrange, and then more changes all with differing priotities barge in and I have to re-arrange again. I find I am spending so much time re-arranging that I get behind-er! Stop this merry-go-round, I wanna get off!

   [Reply]

   

   Ellen Martin Reply:
   August 10th, 2010 at 6:11 am

   Hi Lynn,

   This is interesting. You really shouldn’t have to re-arrange your systems each time something changes. This could be an indication that the patterns or systems you’re putting in place aren’t quite right for you. Rather than completely rearrange, I would suggest that you pay attention to even the most minor problems with your system and change those things until you have a system that suits you and is not a distraction.

   The idea is that your systems should support you without distracting you. Sort of like, the chair I’m sitting in. I am not aware of the chair aside from the fact that it’s allowing me to be comfortable at my desk. If there were issues with the chair, it would then become a distraction that I would want to make changes to until it was no longer distracting.

   Hope that makes sense!

   Hugs,

   Ellen

   [Reply]
2. Yvonne Ohumukini Urness says:

   August 6, 2010 at 4:39 pm

   Ellen, good stuff! I recognized a little of myself in this post. Most days I “have a plan” but on those days I don’t, chaos ensues. Thanks for the reminder to plan my work, then work my plan! ~Aloha!

   [Reply]

   

   Ellen Martin Reply:
   August 10th, 2010 at 6:12 am

   Thanks Yvonne!

   [Reply]
3. Tweets that mention A New Leaf -- Topsy.com says:

   August 6, 2010 at 5:34 pm

   [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kammie Lisenby, Lynn Moore. Lynn Moore said: Getting Organized: It's Not About the Stuff – http://b2l.me/aae44f [...]
4. Katherine C. H. E. says:

   August 9, 2010 at 5:49 am

   Great Advice, Ellen! XO, Katherine.

   [Reply]

   

   Ellen Martin Reply:
   August 10th, 2010 at 6:12 am

   Thanks Katherine!

   [Reply]
5. Sue Painter says:

   August 11, 2010 at 11:34 am

   Hmmmmm interesting reading. Yes, it is about priorities but also about not having the experience to know what brings the money in the door and paying attention to that FIRST! The systems you put into place, Ellen, help people do just that, I bet!
   Sue Painter

   [Reply]
6. Mitch Tublin says:

   August 12, 2010 at 10:42 am

   Ellen,
   The time invested in creating a plan for anything we do pays off exponentially every single time. Great points you make here.
   Mitch

   [Reply]