Ellen Hankes

Consider the Possibilities of Organization

  Imagine the possibilities when...

• Left shoes always are found with right shoes.
• Grocery lists match the dinner menu for tomorrow night.
• The last vitamin in the bottle is backed up by another full container in the cupboard.
• The identification badge for work is not at home while you are walking in the workplace entrance.
• The only snow shovel is not serving as a spine for a five feet tall snowman.
• Recyclable materials like newspapers and cans make it to the curb or the community recycle bin.
• Bills are paid on time because checkbook, bills, stamps and time are in perfect alignment.

Organization can be tough everyday work! What would you do with your new-found time and space with a more organized life?

Winter Weather Provides Once-in-a-Lifetime Learning Opportunities

    Winter weather can change the very best of plans. There is no arguing with Mother Nature when she delivers snow and ice. Beyond taking measures to stay warm and safe, what can you do when your are forced to follow Plan B, Plan C or even Plan D?

If you are unexpectedly detained in your travels, use the time to learn something new. Buy a local newspaper and check out what is happening in your temporary community. The one, and only one New York Times I ever purchased while waiting in a Philadelphia airport provided family history information I had been seeking.

Interesting people are everywhere and it is easy to strike up a conversation when you are detained with common weather woes. Twenty years ago as we waited in a Chicago airportto fly to Washington, D.C. for the presidential inauguration I met a marvelous white-haired widow who shared her story of world travels. The small gold globe she wore around her neck displayed gems to represent the countries she and her late husband visited.

Without experiencing the waiting in these weather-forced delays I would have missed these nuggets of life. What positive things have happened as a result of your travel delays?

Organizing Differences at Work

  "She doesn't organize the way I do!" When a participant at a recent seminar posed the question to me, Rhonda made sure no one else heard the complaint about her supervisor. Rhonda was frustrated with her boss's misplaced papers and lack of returning things to their designated places.

Ronda had creatively set up some systems that would help channel documents in ways that would be convenient for both her and her boss. However, the systems went largely unused by the boss.

My recommendation to Rhonda was to learn more about what was working for both of them and to observe when and how breakdowns in organization occur. A useful tool that can be used by one person or an entire department is the Productive Environment Scorecard for Organizations.

How have you and your co-workers addressed differences in organizational skills and practices? We would like to hear about your experiences.