Taming the Paper Tiger at Work

by Hemphill, Barbara

• ISBN13: 9780938721987
• ISBN10: 0938721984
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-10-01
• Publisher: Kiplinger Books

Summary

At work, people deal with piles of forms, files, folders, and mail but they have no system in place for the non- stop barrage of paper that lands on everyone's work stations; or if they do have a system, it is one that does not work very well. This book taps into this problem and offers easy-to-follow guidelines on filing, labeling, recordkeeping, and working clutter-free. This book is for anyone who is looking for a practical guide on how to keep their professional lives and documents organised.

Author Biography

Barbara Hemphill is past president of the National Association of Professional Organizers. She speaks to audiences of thousands and has appeared often on television, including such programs as Today, Good Morning America, and CBS This Morning

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	xi
Introduction	xvi
PART ONE: Getting Centered
CHAPTER 1: Organize Your Thoughts	3	(16)
What Organization Is-and Isn't
Clutter Is Postponed Decisions Don't Set Yourself Up With Unreal Expectations
Six Elements of Success
CHAPTER 2: Let FAT Work for You	19	(16)
The Art of Wastebasketry
Identify What's Important by Eliminating What's Not
PART TWO: Getting Started
CHAPTER 3: Mechanics of Filing Paper	35	(10)
Filing Tools: Decisions That Make a Difference
Labeling Your Files: The Key to an Effective Filing System
Colored Files and Labels: Use Them to Good Advantage
Filing Made Easier
CHAPTER 4: Set Up Your File system	45	(8)
Keep Your System Simple
File According to its Use, Not Its Source Fewer Places to Look, Fewer Places to Lose
See Also...
Fix the System or Start Over?
The File Index: Your Key to Success
CHAPTER 5: Manage Your Contact Information	53	(6)
Choose Your Weapon
My Combination Strategy
CHAPTER 6: Make the Most of Your Calendar	59	(12)
Smart Use of Your Calendar
Choose Your Calendar or Planner How My Calendar Reflects My Roles in Life
CHAPTER 7: Eliminate Clutter With Your To-Do List	71	(4)
To Do or Not to Do-That Is the Question!
Where to Keep Your To-Do List
Organize Your To-Do List
Look at Your Accomplishments
CHAPTER 8: Take Action	75	(16)
Define Your Next Action in the Real World
Out of Sight, Out of Mind? Suggested Action Categories
Where to Put Action Files
Create File Systems for Projects or Events
Apply Action Principles to Your E-Mail
Manage Your Voice Mail
CHAPTER 9: Organize Your Computer	91	(20)
Set Up Your Filing System
Clean Out Your Computer
Back Up and Prevent Disaster
Avoid the Tomb of the Unknown Diskettes Preserve Your Privacy
A Note About Groupware
Use a Contact-Management Program?
Do You Need a Financial-Management Program?
Should You Store Paper on Paper or Electronically?
CHAPTER 10: Maintain Your Filing system	111	(6)
The Importance of the File Index
Stumbling Blocks to Success
PART THREE: Organizing in Special Situations
CHAPTER 11: When You Work From Home	117	(12)
A Real Office for Real Work
The Basics of Home-Office Equipment Ways to Get Help When You Work Alone
CHAPTER 12: When You Work on the Road	129	(8)
A Phone to Go
Cope With Computers
Record Your Thoughts
Keep Track of Your Files
Work at the Airport
Work in Flight
Work in Your Hotel Room
CHAPTER 13: When You Attend a Convention	137	(6)
Make a Plan Before You Go
Stay Organized Throughout Follow Up When You Get Home
CHAPTER 14: When Your Space Is Shared or Downsized	143	(6)
Moving Into a Workstation
Space for the Day
When You share an Office
PART FOUR: Reorganizing the Organization
CHAPTER 15: Assess Your System	149	(12)
How Management Contributes to the Problem
The Solution
Why Paper Is the Starting Point
Identify Your Information Resources
Prepare for Success
CHAPTER 16: Set Up a File Clean-Out Day	161	(10)
16 Tips for Making It Happen
CHAPTER 17: Establish Retention Guidelines	171	(4)
Talk With Staff Members
Talk With Your Advisers
The Originator's Rule: The Universal Retention Guideline
Document Your Record-Keeping Plan
CHAPTER 18: Create a New (or Renewed) Filing system	175
If You Need to Start Over
A Centrally Understood Filing System
Create Your Information Resource Directory
On the Road to Success