Dec 14 2006

Agile Manager’s Guide to Getting Organized

Published by Mike

How Highly Successful Managers Cut Through the Clutter and Get Things Done

Getting better organized is the key to accomplishing more for most managers in business. Yet the steps to becoming better organized are rarely complex or difficult. In fact, most managers already know intuitively what they should be doing to achieve more. The challenge lies in putting into active practice the ideas, strategies and techniques of organization.

Effective and product managers are constantly watching out for ways they can cut through the clutter, focus on critical issues, organize and streamline their paper handling systems, avoid time wasters and manage projects well. These are the basic elements of the agile and effective manager’s toolkit.

“Achievement must be made against the risk of defeat. It is no achievement to walk a tightrope laid flat against the floor. Where there is no risk, there is no pride of achievement and consequently no happiness.” — Ray Kroc

Eliminating Mental Clutter

One of the main impediments to achievement is often clutter — unnecessary details that add no value but are a drag on productivity. By eliminating the clutter, many managers will immediately become much more productive. The steps to eliminating clutter are:

  • Know the culprit behind the clutter
  • Identify your goals and objectives in life
  • Make goals specific and measurable
  • Stretch (get out of your comfort zone)
  • Be flexible
  • Focus on your contribution at work

    • Excluding the Unimportant

    Simplify your life wherever possible by:

  • Rejecting or keeping at arm’s length the unimportant
  • Taking one thing at a time
  • Concentrating your efforts
  • Aiming to contribute productively
  • Focusing on today, not tomorrow
  • Using the power of “No”

    • Cutting the Project Fuzz

    For most people, organizing your work effectively will fall into two main areas:

  • Being able to complete projects on your own successfully
  • Being ble to manage a team project effectively

    • Get Rid of the Time Dragger

    Planning to accomplish the important things in your life requires four tools. And the first of them you can probably dispense with after a day or two:

  • A time log
  • A to-do list
  • A desk or pocket calendar with space for appointments
  • Deadlines

    • Conquering the Paper Pile

    The way you handle all the paper that comes into your life will have a significant impact on your productivity. In essence, the elements of an effective system for handling paper are:

  • Being able to clear your desk
  • Organizing the paper you keep into files
  • Keeping your files in alphabetical order
  • Handling incoming paper efficiently

    • Keep Away from Great Time Wasters

  • Meetings
  • Unnecessary reports and memos
  • People
  • Procrastination
  • Perfectionism
  • Waiting for others to arrive for appointments
  • Excessive prep time on reports and presentations
  • Waiting for people to complete their assignments

    • Agile Manager’s Guide to Getting Organized

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