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Computer & Email
Get the Most from Microsoft Outlook
Beware the Empty Inbox
Get the Most from Your Handheld
Do Digital Organizers Save Time - Or Waste It?
Efficient E-mail Habits
Transitioning from Paper to Digital Information Storage
Faxing Without Paper Saves Time
Working From Two Offices
Business & the Office
Time Tactics for the Office
Keeping Track of Delegated Tasks
Controlling Interruptions
Keeping Track of Your Customers & Prospects
Do Your Employees Really Need Customer Service Training?
Paper Management
Action Files Prevent Desk Clutter
Reclaim Your Desktop with a Tickler File
What To Do With All Those Business Cards?
Managing Project Folders - A Surprising Tip that Works
Time Management & Organizing
The Power of Planning Ahead
Words of Wisdom You Should Ignore
Coping with Information Overload
Thirteen Tips for Working Smarter, Not Harder
© Jan Jasper; 2001-2010
It's a challenge to keep track of everything you must discuss with co-workers involved in a project. Project
folders are a good start, but each folder contains issues involving various people. You may have 4 issues, in 4
different project folders, to discuss with Sue. How can you remember them all when Sue phones?
A commonly-used method that doesn't work is to remove all papers to be discussed with Sue from their project
folders, and put them in a pile - when Sue calls, you go through the pile. But this causes problems later because
you don't have time to put the papers back in the folder.
The solution -- Use colored flags or sticky notes to 'sort' paper without removing it from its project folder. Use visual
cues. If Sue's last name is Green, she gets the green flags. When you see a paper to be discussed with Sue, stick on a
green flag. When Sue calls, reach for the green-flagged papers. (Remove the colored flag when you're done.) How about Bob,
your co-worker who's always down in the dumps? Assign him blue tabs. (I don't recommend you tell people the reasons for your
color choices!)
The benefits are many: You don't have to call Sue again because you forgot to ask her something. You spend less time moving
paper around. And you won't misplace things.
This article is available to reprint if you include my copyright notice and identify me as follows: "Jan Jasper, a productivity expert in the New York City
area, is the author of Take Back Your Time: How to Regain Control of Work, Information, & Technology (St. Martin's Press)."
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About the Author:
Productivity coach Jan Jasper has been helping busy people work smarter, not harder since 1988. Her customized approach guides clients to manage time,
tasks, and information more effectively. She also provides Microsoft Outlook customization for clients. Jan is the author of
Take Back Your Time: How to Regain Control of Work, Information, & Technology (St. Martin's Press).
She recently completed a North American media tour as the national efficiency spokesperson for IKON Office Solutions,
Inc. She has appeared on radio and TV all over North America and is quoted regularly in print. Jan is an adjunct instructor at
New York University.
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