You are trying to get ahead, both literally and figuratively, in the world of work and you just do not feel like you are getting anywhere. You cannot seem to get "your people" to get done what they need to get done (this may be at work or at home!) and you feel constantly behind. What are you going to do? Get organized! However, getting organized is like losing weight - it may sound simple but it certainly isn't easy.

In this article we bring you tips to make getting organized easier so you can actually do it!

• Acquire and use a commercially marketed "Planner" system that allows you to list, prioritize, and schedule work activities.
• At the beginning or end of each day, set aside 5 to 10 minutes of "quiet time" to review accomplishments and identify your work priorities and general schedule for the coming work day.
• Ensure that you understand and maintain a written copy of your immediate manager's annual performance goals/objectives. Use these goals to guide major decisions and to create priorities for your own activities.
• If you are not already using a commercially available Project Management software product, acquire one and become proficient in its use. Consistently use these types of tools to structure and manage assignments of appreciable size and scope.
• When confronted with extremely challenging timeframes for deliverables, ensure that you obtain a clear understanding of balance desired between timely delivery and completeness of the desired deliverable.
• Avoid committing to completion dates for deliverables which are ambiguously defined and/or for which you have not performed initial scope and planning activities.
• Share responsibility for planning activities with other team members involved in the project. Doing so ensures better upfront understanding of priorities, potential fail points, etc. Also, team members will likely have a greater sense of commitment and ownership for success.
• During the course of significant projects that involve other team members, conduct periodic update and review sessions with the group, rather than simply with individual team members. Since many of the activities are likely to be interconnected, it is important that each team member be kept informed of progress and potential problems on the overall project, rather than simply their individual activities.
• Plan timely follow up on important assignments given to team members. Avoid the assumption that you will be informed in a timely manner of "potential problems or delays." Schedule follow up and review functions in such a manner that unexpected issues can be overcome without causing major delays, etc.
• For both yourself and assignments given to other team members, evaluate the balance of quality, timeliness, and competing demands. Although there may be instances where doubling the time spent on a given project to increase its quality five percent may be warranted, such cases seldom occur.
• When possible, plan your day by taking into account that you are likely to have to deal with some unexpected issues. At the same time, attempt to focus on your daily plan and stick to your priorities. Do not feel that you must immediately deal with every minor matter that others may bring to your attention.

This is for general informational purposes only and it is not intended to provide anyone with specific advice or recommendation. This is not a substitute for advice from an appropriate professional. If you feel you need further help, we strongly suggest you seek assistance from an appropriate professional.

For more information
P: Don Kottick
W: www.realestatesimulator.com
P: 1-888-260-7212 x 31