Join Linette at the Chicago Green Festival at McCormick Place on May 15, 3 - 4 p.m. She'll share tips on how to Take Back Your Desk!

If your workday is spent looking for important documents that have been swallowed by your desk, join Linette George, founder of Get Organized by George, Inc., as she gives tips for the overwhelmed eco-preneur. Learn how to get more done, in less time, and with less stress.

Download your free ticket here »

Kermit had it all wrong. Bein' green IS easy once you know how. With a little effort you can 'green-up' your office from the bathroom to the boardroom. Here are 15 easy things you can start doing today (recycled from last year):

• Power down computers and other electronic equipment at the end of each day.
• Utilize the power save mode on computers, printers, and photocopiers.
• Use double-sided printing and copying.
• Cut up already-used-on-one-side paper for reuse as scratch pads.
• Recycle used ink-jet cartridges.
• Avoid chemical-based air fresheners in the bathroom.
• Introduce Fair Trade Certified™ and organic coffee and tea into your workplace.
• Stock the break room cabinets with reusable dishware.
• Wherever there is a garbage can, place a larger recycling container.
• Donate excess supplies, computers, office equipment to local nonprofits and schools.
• Use Blackle.com, powered by Google, to perform your Internet searches. It saves energy by using a black screen, which requires less monitor power than Google's white screen.
• Choose to use non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products.
• Thoroughly use or creatively repurpose office supplies you already have before purchasing new ones.
• Buy recycled content paper, envelopes, and stationery.
• Strive for 100% post-consumer content and zero chlorine bleaching whenever possible.
• Establish a company Green Team to help implement these and future changes.

It doesn't matter where you begin making changes, only that you begin. Once a program is established, the momentum can drive more areas of improvement. In the end you will have a healthier working environment and the satisfaction of doing your part to improve the sustainability of our planet. You will also realize increased profitability for the company. It's a win-win-win!

Step one in meeting effectiveness is to seriously consider whether the meeting is actually necessary. Are there alternative, more effective methods for accomplishing your purpose? Can your objective be accomplished with a memo or an e-mail? Would one-on-one conversations be more effective? Since meetings have become a serious waste of time in many organizations, look for ways to avoid having a meeting, if possible. 

If you find that a meeting is absolutely the best way to communicate, try the following suggestions for making meetings more meaningful:

1. Clarify the purpose of the meeting. What do you want to accomplish by having the meeting, and why do you want to accomplish it?
2. Invite the appropriate people. Are the right people invited to this meeting? Is anyone coming to the meeting who doesn't need to be there?
3. Conduct adequate meeting planning. What needs to happen before the meeting begins? For example, can materials be sent to the attendees prior to the meeting to facilitate more effective and efficient interactions during the meeting?
4. Carefully control the time used during the meeting. As a meeting leader, develop a reputation for being ruthless about avoiding wasted time. Start on time, follow a timed agenda, and give attendees a specific ending time. Then stick to it!
5. Use headlining techniques. Communicate during the meetings by asking everyone to use headlining techniques to prevent or minimize rambling dialogue. Whenever possible, ask people to begin their comments or responses by headlining - stating clearly in no more than 10 words - the essence of what they plan to talk about.
6. Use the pause-and-debrief method to generate purposeful discussion. Headline the issue to be discussed, and ask everyone to pause for a minute or two to jot down their thoughts related to the issue. Then debrief the group in a manner that will facilitate the full participation of all members of the group. For example, call on the less vocal attendees first to protect them from premature criticism from the dominant, outspoken attendees. As meeting leader, if you plan to comment, save your comments for last.
7. Use the "Parking Lot" technique to prevent excessive rambling or off-topic discussions. Use a flip chart or separate pad of paper to record off-topic items. In effect, "park" these issues elsewhere until after the meeting, along with follow-up items or other items that would be better addressed outside the meeting.
8. Establish "After-Action Follow-up." Have a recorder present to take notes and distribute to the attendees. Establish a clear plan for what happens next, if anything. Assign ownership and set deadlines for an action items.
9. End on a note of clarity.At the end of a project management meeting, have each person read their responsibilities and due dates. This ensures that people were taking notes and helps clear up any confusion as to who is responsible for which action item.
10. Evaluate the success of your meeting and make any appropriate adjustments before you conduct another meeting.

*Adapted from the GO System, a workplace productivity program we offer.

Have you ever left the office at the end of the day feeling like you didn't accomplish a thing? Perhaps it's because you had too many interruptions pulling you away from what you intended to do. All day long we get interrupted by phone calls, emails, pagers, co-workers, etc. After an interruption it takes about 20 minutes to regroup and become fully re-engaged in what we were working on before being interrupted; no wonder we feel we can't get anything done! 

According to Dr. Donald E. Wetmore, time management expert, approximately 80 percent of interruptions are of "little value" or "no value," and those interruptions waste about three hours every day. That's a huge loss in productivity!

When figuring out how to eliminate these "productivity black holes," we need to ask ourselves if we actually welcome interruptions. Some of us look for interruptions as a way to procrastinate, and some of us fail to protect our priorities by simply allowing interruptions to occur.
 
Here are some ideas to help you protect your priorities and get the most out of your workday.

Block Your Time:
Schedule blocks of time during the day to make or return phone calls. Unless you're required to answer every time it rings, let your calls go to voicemail when you're working on a project. After all, that's what voicemail is for.

I've said it before and I'll say it again (and again...), email is wonderful, but it's also a HUGE source of self-imposed distraction. I highly recommend blocking a few times throughout the day to check email instead of checking it every couple minutes. If that feels too restricting, then at least disable your email notification tool (the pop-ups and dings). Again, unless your job requires that you jump every time an email arrives (i.e., help desk), schedule times to check it periodically (morning, lunch, 3 p.m., etc.)

Protect Your Priorities: 
When you receive an interruption, you generally have to make a choice; decide which is more important: what you're currently working on or this new thing requesting your attention. Align your decision with your priorities. Most people don't expect you to immediately reply to a text or to an email, or always answer the phone. And if someone interrupts you in person, ask if you can get back to them in 10 minutes or so. Unless it's an emergency, most people will be very accommodating. 

If you have an office, close the door. Put a note on the door indicating what time you'll be available. If you have a cubicle, try one of these cool "do not disturb" tools:

In-person interruptions generally last longer than phone interruptions, and social interruptions have the highest impact on our ability to return to our original task.* As a social person myself, I'm not suggesting you eliminate all socializing with co-workers. Just understand the cost it will have on your productivity. So choose your water cooler conversations carefully. 

Bottom Line:
Control what you can (it's probably a lot more than you think), and make well-examined decisions when an interruption comes your way.

Sources:
*SmartCube, Inc., Social Interruption and the Loss of Productivity

Happy Get Organized Month!

The beginning of a new year is a great time to evaluate relationships with friends, family, partners--and time. Most of us feel we never have enough time. In reality, everyone gets the same amount each day. How you manage your 24 hours is up to you. But, I'm going to challenge you not to think of it in terms of "time management," rather behavior management. In other words, learn to manage your life within the time you're given.

The cold hard truth is most of us don't spend our time wisely. "Work smarter, not harder" may sound trite, although it's actually good advice. According to the Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule), 80 percent of what we do all day is wasted time. 80 percent! And wasted time doesn't move us toward our goals. If you buy into this theory (and I hope you do), think how much more time you'd have if you cut out just 25, or even 50, percent of your wasted time, not to mention 80 percent!

Now, don't get me wrong. I know just as well as you that "life happens" and things don't always go according to plan. So, here are some suggestions to minimize that wasted 80 percent.

Set a schedule every day in accordance with your priorities and stick to it as closely as possible. Try never to hard-schedule more than half your day. You want to leave room for the unforeseen--a.k.a. "life."

Don't mistake being busy for being productive. Ask yourself, "What can I do today that will cause me to leave the office feeling like I had a successful day?" Be specific (i.e., make eight cold calls, etc.).  

Delegate whenever possible. Ask yourself, "What things must I do, and what can be delegated?" Trust that others can do things to assist you. Do what you do best, and delegate the rest. Even solopreneurs can delegate tasks to virtual assistants, bookkeepers, web designers, etc.

Delegating includes saying "No." It's one of the best time savers. No one has time to say "yes" to all requests, and you're not respecting your time if you do. Practice right now--just say NO!

If you're overcommitted, ask yourself what you can give up. There's always something you can live without.

Track how you spend your time. It's tedious, but it can be a real eye-opener. For one week, write down how you spent your time each day. At the end of the week, evaluate your time diary. Chances are, if you're honest with yourself, you'll see plenty of areas where you didn't use your time as prudently as you could have, probably about 80 percent of the time. Identify your time wasters and commit to eliminate them. Think about this: If an employee earning $50,000 a year wastes one hour each day, it costs the company $6,500 per year in lost productivity. To calculate for you or your employees, go to our "Cost of Disorganization Calculator." 

When you're feeling overwhelmed, stop. Focus on your breathing, relax, and center yourself. As a result, you'll feel better and be more productive.

Be realistic about how long something takes to accomplish. If you're not good at estimating time, double or even triple the time you think a task will take. That way you'll err on the safe side.

Do your own thing. If you're more comfortable with paper-and-pencil scheduling, use a paper calendar system. If you love e-calendars and they work well for you, then geek-out to your heart's content. Don't do what you think you "should" do or what "everyone else is doing." You'll save both time and frustration by going with your own flow.

Allow yourself reflective time to consider what you can do to be more efficient and productive. What can you improve upon that you're currently doing? And if you need help, give us a call. We're here for you.

A few years ago, my screensaver used to read "Practice Grateful Living." Every time I saw it, I would think of at least one thing I was grateful for. It was very empowering and gave me a new perspective on life.

In these challenging social and economic times, I think of all the ways I'm blessed: my husband and I are both employed; we have health insurance, a roof over our heads, clothes to wear, food in the fridge, good health, loving and supportive family and friends, and an amazing dog. What more could we ask for?

I'm grateful for all the clients who have come into my life, and for the connections I've made through professional associations and networking groups. So at this time of thanksgiving, I'd like to say 
"Thank You" for all you have shared with me and added to my life, both personally and professionally.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you grateful for? Please comment on our blog - we'd love to know!

Ok, it's confession time. "My name is Linette, and I'm a procrastinator." Does it surprise you that someone who trains others how to be productive suffers from the dreaded "disease" of procrastination? It's true. Having confessed this, though, I must also tell you that I work hard at overcoming this limiting behavior; and I'll share some ideas that I hope will help my fellow sufferers out there.

Chances are, if you are a perfectionist, you also procrastinate. How do I know? Well, I suffer from that wonderful  trait as well. So, what can you do when plagued with these "diseases"? Plenty!

The first step to recovery is to figure out why you procrastinate. Is it a fear of failure or a fear of success? Are you unclear about what action you need to take? Does the task bore you? Are you an adrenaline junky who loves the rush of just beating a deadline?

Once you discover your motivation for putting things off, spend some time figuring out how you can change your perspective. Talk with people who don't procrastinate as much to learn how they view unpleasant or difficult tasks. Perhaps they can offer you some insight. Here are some additional suggestions:

• Don't seek perfection. Tell yourself "80 percent is good enough." It's certainly better than doing nothing at all; 100 percent perfect is an unrealistic expectation.
• Make a "one-day to-do list" with no more than 5 action items. Strive to achieve 80 percent of your list, and reward yourself for your efforts.
• Break an overwhelming task down into "bite size" portions and complete one bite at a time. For truly unpleasant tasks, just do 10-15 minutes at a time, give yourself a break, and then come back and work on it for another 10-15 minutes until it's done.
• Get an accountability partner to hold you to your commitments. I can't say enough about the value of my accountability partner, Donna. I had to get up extra early the morning of our last call so I could complete my task, but I wouldn't have done it without that added pressure of our weekly accountability call.
• Play classical music--or whatever helps you to focus and stay motivated. When I have to work on something unpleasant or challenging or if I'm feeling especially distractible, I listen to classical or dance music to help me focus and to motivate me--works every time.
• Don't put off what can be done quickly. If it takes two minutes or less, do it now, and then move on to the next task.
• Limit your "checking in" time to a minimum. As wonderful as modern technology can be, it has given us more excuses to do things other than what we need to be doing. Facebook, Twitter, texting, instant messaging, and emails give us plenty of reasons for distraction. Schedule "checking in" time in your day; for example, only check in every two hours or once in the morning, at lunchtime, and once in the afternoon, etc.
• Clear the clutter. A lot of time is wasted looking for misplaced items, which delays what you really need to be working on. Organize your desk space so you can focus on the task at hand and eliminate the excuse to procrastinate.
• Work on the most important task first--preferably first thing in the morning. If you're not a morning person, pick your most alert time of the day.

Procrastination is a learned behavior, which means it can be un-learned. So, stop making excuses and do something about it... NOW!

Lately, one of my favorite expressions is, "I'm gettin' my brave on." Does the way of the world today make me feel like I need an extra boost of courage, or am I just feeling all motivational? I don't know, but either way, the phrase encourages me. In today's tumultuous world, most of us could use some extra encouragement to help us reach our goals.

My 30th year of life was proclaimed "The Year of Facing My Fears." I was determined to enter my third decade with gusto. That year, I bought and remodeled my first house, took voice and acting lessons, took a metal sculpting class, went skydiving, and adopted my first dog, Sasha. What a great year!

Facing your fears can be amazingly empowering. I had more energy, felt happier, and thought I could do anything I put my mind to. Just two challenges remained: walking on fire and hang gliding.

Well, check another one off the list.

Last year on October 22 at 11 p.m., it was rainy and 40 degrees as I nervously stood barefoot outside waiting for my turn. With the encouragement of my firewalking partner Josh, I did it. I walked on fire! It was one of the most empowering experiences of my life. I felt invincible.

Admittedly, the feeling of empowerment faded as time went by, so I use visual cues to bring me back to that moment. For example, I proudly wear my "Firewalker" t-shirt, a "Go forth and set the world on fire." magnet hangs by my desk, I regularly get together with my firewalking buddies, and use an image of hot coals as my screensaver.

Whenever that little voice inside my head (you know the one) begins to say "I can't" do something in my business or my personal life, I remember I walked on fire!; and I get the courage to forge ahead.

So go out and do something brave, something daring. Push the limits of what you think you can do, then create visual cues of your accomplishment, so you'll be reminded of just how powerful you are.

Now, what are you going to do to set the world on fire? We’d love to know!

Working from home can be wonderful--no rush hour traffic, no co-worker's dirty dishes in the sink or splatters in the microwave, a private bathroom, and best of all, a micro-commute in your pj's and bunny slippers.

Although there are many advantages to a home-based office, there are also challenges. It’s not always easy to maintain your focus. It's important to set boundaries so the line between personal and business doesn't get blurred. Here are some ways you can successfully manage the pitfalls of a home-based office.

Family Boundaries
If you have a family, it's important to clarify with them when it's ok to interrupt and when it's not. My dad worked from home, and he made it very clear that we were not to "bother" him unless it was important. Having that understanding made it clear that what Dad was doing was more important than my ratting out my older brother.

Pets
If you have a dog like I do, you know what a challenge dogs can be. In, out, in, out, all day long. My little Sophie has the habit of putting her front paws on my desk and pushing my hands off the keyboard so I can pet her. As cute as that is, it can be very distracting. (What timing--she's doing it as I try to write this!) My solution? Doggie daycare whenever possible; it's fun for her and helps me focus on my work.

Schedule
Maintaining a regular 9-5 work schedule will help you stay in "work mode." Try your best to focus on work and not on all the distractions of your personal life (dirty dishes, laundry). Keep personal emails and phone calls at bay by dedicating time to them only during breaks or lunch.

Stay in Touch
Working alone can make you feel isolated. Stay connected by meeting colleagues or friends for coffee or lunch--just as you'd do if you were at the office. Be sure to set time limits; otherwise, your hour lunch could easily turn into a 3-hour lunch. (You know what I mean, ladies.)

Maintain a Clear Focus
Use a cueing device to help stay on task. When my mind begins to wander, I catch myself and glance over at my "Right Now" pebble. Then, I ask, "What am I supposed to be focused on right now?" That's generally all I need to pull myself back into focus and get back to work. Try a cueing device to see if it helps you maintain better focus, too.

Change Things Up
One of my favorite ways to create better focus is to change my work environment. Twice a week I head to the Morton Arboretum and set up shop. They have free Wi-Fi, electrical outlets, and a beautiful view--what could be better? I'm always amazed how productive I am when it's just me and my laptop. I strongly encourage you to find an alternate venue for a few hours a week if you can. Just be sure it's somewhere less distracting than home.

We'd love to hear from you. What are your best tips for maintaining focus while working from home?