It can be difficult to organize with a partner or spouse who shares the same office / business with you. Oftentimes what I find is that one person wants to keep everything and the other wants to get rid of everything. There is rarely a meeting of the minds and because the two (or more) people know each other very well they tend to criticize and judge each other assuming their WAY is the best.
I have worked with many, many couples and partners over the years and the trick to working with another person and finding harmonious ways to organize is to look for the strengths and non-negotiables within each of you. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Choose which tasks you will be responsible for based on those.
I'm sure there are parts of the office / business you each feel passionate about. If those parts are different make the choice to have the person who is most interested in that area decide the best way to organize or systematize it. All the while making sure the other person understands the system.
If there are areas that you both feel you are the best person to make the decision you will have to find a compromise. Talk it out with open minds and realize you are on the same team, with the same objective. It is not a contest. When your office is a well run, efficient place to be you both win. There is often a way to split the project or task that will make you both happy.
I would suggest discussing and making the decisions that are the easiest or most obvious first. Don't start with the issues that will be the battles. As you work through all of the areas and challenges you both face in your office / business you will begin to find your way through it and the battles might not loom so large as they would if that was the starting point.
You can do this! You will find your way!
If you have a sticking point feel free to schedule a Strategy Session with me. I am happy to help you both talk through any issues you can't get to the bottom of on your own.
How often do you walk into your office and want to turn around and walk back out? Are you overwhelmed just by the sight or thought of your office?
Let me share some simple tips about the 5 key areas of your office you want to make flow so you never feel that way again.
1. Your Office Space – The way you set up your office is so important to its flow. Can you easily access the things you need on a regular basis? Keep the things you use most often within reach of your desk.
2. Your Time / Schedule – Don’t overload yourself with appointments so that you are worried about being late for everything and have to rush. There is nothing that drains you more than being stressed. You want to be on time and make a good impression. Whether you have an appointment outside the office, on the phone or are working on something in your office by yourself, give yourself enough time to handle it. Block your time realistically. If you’re working in your office set a timer for the amount of time you’ve blocked. Then you are able to work without watching the clock. You will be so much more productive.
The thing is when we overbook our time we get less done because we’re feeling pressure all day long. By scheduling less you will actually get more done. Try it!
3. Your Paper – Have a place for it. Have a filing system that makes sense to you. That way, when you are looking for something, you will know right where to go and find it. For ongoing projects and upcoming events, a tickler file is a great way to keep on top of things. The papers are out of sight but never out of mind.
4. Your Email – These days, this is probably the most difficult area of your office to keep up on. All day long whether you’re there or not, the emails keep on coming. Have folders set up to file the ones you want to archive, read later, use as a resource, etc. Turn off the bell, icon or you’ve got mail reminder. Only check your emails at set intervals that fit your schedule. Schedule a realistic amount of time for dealing with them. Again, set a timer if you need to. Set a limit on the number of emails you’re comfortable having in your inbox and stick to it!
5. Your Purging System – This may be the most important area of your office in order to maintain flow. If you never purge anything from your paper files, computer files or emails the space will just continue to fill up. Once your computer gets full it slows down and inhibits productivity. Once your file drawers get full you will pile. Schedule time to purge. Whatever works for you is perfect. Maybe it’s 20 minutes a week or 2 hours a month, doesn’t matter as long as you stick to it.
That is the key to all of this. At first it might be a struggle, but stick to it. Once you do it becomes habit and then there’s no turning back. Get your office to flow and it’s absolute magic!
WANT TO USE THIS IN YOUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER, WEBSITE OR BLOG?
You can, as long as you use it in its entirety and include this info: Beth Sharkey Flarida is the owner of Get It Together. She is a Productivity Consultant, Efficiency Expert and Professional Organizer for business. Being productive is not one size fits all! Beth has helped 1000s businesses find the systems that work for them and she can do the same for you! Visit http://www.GetBeth.com.
I come across clients all the time who read organizing books, go to organizing seminars or work with an organizer who wants them to do things the organizer's way. They think they've got the answer to all their frustrations and challenges. Then when the solution doesn't work they feel as if they've failed. The problem is you need to read 100s of books and go to tons of seminars and pick out just the little nuggets that will work for you. It is very important that the solution to your productivity issues are based on who you are and how you work. I work very closely with my clients to get to know them and find what will work for them so they succeed. My clients become more productive, more efficient and organized. I guarantee it! The solution only has to work for YOU! Not for anyone else.
WANT TO USE THIS IN YOUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER, WEBSITE OR BLOG?
You can, as long as you use it in its entirety and include this info: Beth Sharkey Flarida is the owner of Get It Together. She is a Productivity Consultant, Efficiency Expert and Professional Organizer for business. Being productive is not one size fits all! Beth has helped 1000s businesses find the systems that work for them and she can do the same for you! Visit http://www.GetBeth.com.
I have worked with many, many couples and partners over the years and the trick to working with another person and finding harmonious ways to organize is to look for the strengths and non-negotiables within each of you. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Choose which tasks you will be responsible for based on those.
obvious first. Don't start with the issues that will be the battles. As you work through all of the areas and challenges you both face in your office / business you will begin to find your way through it and the battles might not loom so large as they would if that was the starting point.
