In organizing, I generally start with a list of items that need to be done, with completion dates. Then I break out each item into its parts. That allows me to multitask efficiently. So I can complete one subtask and then move onto a different subtask in a different objective seamlessly.
Some tasks are wholly under my control. Other are dependent on others. For example if I have a task to complete but I need to order something to complete that task. The ordering is outside my control. So I have to factor that into the scheduling. I have to allow extra time to make sure even if the item is late, I can still complete the task on time.
The other factor to integrate is whether the completion date is a hard or soft date. Some people demand an unrealistic date but it is fictitious. It is just the way some people are wired. Everything that type of person requires is alway ASAP. But some tasks absolutely need to be done by a deadline, such as a grant submission, or you lose the grant. So try and determine the hard deadlines from the soft ones.
Another tool I use is clear plastic envelopes. These will hold 8x11 papers without bending them and the envelop have an outside fastener. Every project gets a different envelope. It is a good way of keeping track of your projects, if they are complex. Everything pertaining to the project is stored in its own clear envelope. You can put a cover sheet in the front of the envelope. That way you can have thousands of pages of material on your desk but its organized by envelopes that can be accessed at ease in seconds.
25 Dec 2014, 10:41 pm
