1-Minute Strategies: November ’23
Streamline your paper filing system … should you do your boss’ personal errands?
Category: Filing
Develop a color code for better organization
One of the easiest ways to add structure and organization to your workspace, files and more is to use color-coding. This typically applies more to paper files than digital files. However, many programs and task management tools allow you to add category colors so you can carry them over to your digital file management.
Good SOP manual/BAD SOP manual
Let’s look at some good examples of SOP manual techniques … and some bad ones.
Admins’ top 3 timesaving shortcuts
Most timesaving “secrets” are the best practices you’ve been hearing about since the advent of paper clips. The trick is, you have to try them out to discover whether they match your work style. And then you have to stick with them to gain the benefits. Here are three timesaving secrets recommended by administrative professionals:
Make your files collaboration-friendly
If your office collaborates on documents and data, inside and outside the organization, you may encounter collaborators using different office suites who need to work on the same file. “So that data file might pass between MS Office, LibreOffice, iWork, WPS—the list goes on and on,” says TechRepublic’s Jack Wallen. Wallen offers some tips to help make your files easy to share.
Is it workplace hoarding … or record-keeping?
Are work documents taking over your office? If your desk is covered, your filing cabinets are full and your email archive goes back for years, it may be time to ask yourself if holding on is hurting more than it’s helping.
4 steps to a paper-free life
Stop stacks of paper from standing between you and organizational bliss with these steps for taking your documents digital, from Teens in Tech’s editorial director, Emmanuel Banks.
Keeping a ‘meetings warrior’ organized
Not all executives are content to have access to documents only on their smartphones, tablets or laptops. If you work for a boss who still depends heavily on paper and attends up to a dozen meetings a day, here’s an organizing solution for you.
Organize a disorganized boss? Maybe …
Your boss has a “hands-on” work style that demands all files stay nearby. So how do you help a boss whose office is drowning in paper? Here are tips for organizing a paper-strewn office:
5 ways to keep track of business cards
“My boss is inundated with business cards,” writes an admin reader. “Some are in Rolodexes, others are loose. But he doesn’t want to weed through and toss old ones. Any ideas on how to organize them?”