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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 a Fax Machine
Getting Your Files When You're On The Go
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 No-Tech Time Management Tips
© Jan Jasper; 2001-2012
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 "Sue" pile. But this causes problems later because
you don't have time to put the papers back in their respective folders, and they're likely to get lost.
Post-It Notes or Colored Flags Can Help
I recommend colored flags or sticky notes to 'sort' papers without
removing them from project folders. These little guys get an undeserved bad rap. Colored flags and stickies, used properly,
can be very effective organizing tools.
Use the colors as visual cues. If Sue's last name is Green, she gets the green sticky notes. 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 for a one-time reprint or one-time internet posting if you include my copyright notice, provide a link to www.janjasper.com
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)."
Read Terms and Conditions for details.
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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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