The Cost of a Cluttered Desk “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results.� Albert Einstein
Productivity Partners, Inc.
913-649-0878
888-482-2688
From time to time I get a question from an audience member during one of my presentations. They express a dire hope that getting organized is a one-time event based on acquiring the right tools…and then secretly hope for a magic answer. The bigger picture depicts something of greater concern. The price tag for not getting organized is significant in time, money, stress and frustration for the individual and the organization. The Wall Street Journal reported a statistic that has stood for years. “The average US executive loses weeks per year retrieving misplaced information from messy desks and files. The cost in salary and lost productivity is enormous.” Six weeks a year translates to about one hour/day. Simply take one hour a day, multiply it by the average hourly employee rate and then multiply that by the total number of employees in your organization. This gives you an annual dollar figure on lost productivity. Keep in mind that this figure does not reflect the $250 cost incurred in order to re-create each document that is lost. And it does not reflect the amount of time lost pursuing new opportunities. The direct and hidden cost of not being able to find information can be staggering. It’s not about a paper-free workspace, it’s about a clutter-free workspace. There is no magic answer, but strategically speaking there are three key principles involved in becoming and remaining organized. •Planning. If thought and planning are not given to a home’s foundation, in time the house may crumble. If an employee’s working environment has not been given the time and attention needed in order to create user-friendly systems or foundations, then clutter and disorganization are just a step away…and so is the negative impact on the top and bottom line. Remember…paper, time, space and electronic management systems are all interconnected. A non-workable system in one part of the environment will more than likely result in a similar situation elsewhere. •Process. Once a workable system has been established, the next objective is to practice the processes required to keep work moving forward. Processes help an employee do the right thing at the right time---the definition of being both effective and efficient. This reduces the stress and improves personal performance and productivity and that, in turn, ultimately affects the team and the entire organization. •Behavior. This is, of course, the most difficult step. It represents change and for most of us change is a challenging and difficult arena. It takes commitment to overcome delayed decision making habits, let go of un-needed paper or remain focused on priorities. But the rewards are there to be had by anyone who pursues. Just remember…everything we do and don’t do is dependent upon how organized we are…or can be.
© 2001 Cynthia Kyriazis Productivity Partners, Inc.
913-649-0878
888-482-2688
Productivity Partners, Inc. specializes in helping employees overcome the 24/7 time management and organizing challenges they face in order to improve performance, increase productivity and reduce stress.
PPI assists individuals, teams, and entire companies in gaining confidence and control when it comes to paper, information, time, space and choice management. Offerings include: Onsite workshops Online workshops or webinars Assessments Coaching Consulting Presentations Products
Cynthia Kyriazis started her business in 1992 after 25 years experience in multi-unit operations management. She is an organizing and time management coach, consultant, trainer, speaker and author. Cynthia is past Secretary of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), 2008 President of the International Society for Performance Improvement-Kansas City chapter (KCISPI), a national speaker, and consultant to the American Coaching Association. Cynthia can be reached at Cynthia@ProPartnersInc.com www.ProPartnersInc.com www.Moveyourmindset.wordpress.com Linkedin.com/in/propartnersinc Twitter.com/ProductiveYou GoogleMe
Productivity Partners, Inc.
913-649-0878
888-482-2688