How to Improve Organizational Skills

Good organizational skills are crucial to maximizing your productivity and helping you achieve a well-balanced lifestyle. Some people are born with these skills, but most people are not. If you are like most people, you will have to develop good organizational skills. It takes a lot of effort and practice, but once you improve your organizational skills, you probably will find that your work life and your home life become much more productive and balanced.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Create a to-do list for each day. Then keep the list with you, and refer to it often. Cross things off when you do them.

2. Keep a planner, and use it faithfully. You can use a paper planner, or you can put future appointments into your smart phone or electronic device. Be sure to enter events that are far in the future. For example, if a client asks you to call in six months, put that in your planner. This will help you avoid those costly missed opportunities.

3. Take notes when you speak with people. Sometimes jotting down the silliest details can make the world of difference on your next call. For example, if your client mentions a sick child, you can ask about the child's recovery when you speak next. This helps build rapport.

4. Look at your planner and notes each night, so that you are ready for the next day. Move anything you have not completed on that day's to-do list to the next day's list.

5. Get sufficient sleep. People who are tired have a tendency to put things off for another day.

Tips & Warnings

• When you are making your to-do list, try putting on it some things you have already done or know you will do, so that you can cross them off. If you have a lot of things crossed off your list and only a few things left, you are more motivated to finish those few things.

References

• Cepro: 3 Ways to Improve Your Sales Organization Skills
• Value for Your Life: Who Else Wants to Improve Their Organizational Skills?