Keeping Your Office Organized

Looking around your office, what do you see?

No, we're not talking about desks and chairs and computers. We're talking about storage. Does your office have storage lockers, boxes or cabinets? Are there rows and rows of file cabinets? Or is everything in piles, haphazardly moved off of the floor?

It's important for businesses to keep organized. Even if it's a small business, important contacts, papers and items can get lost in a shuffle, and fast. If just one person is able to make a mess, just think of  how big a mess a group of five, ten or even a hundred people could make. Here's a couple tips to keep your business organized:

1. Create a filling or organizational system, and stick to it. Decide where memos, contact information, office supplies, etc. should go. There's nothing worse than having multiple piles or folders for the same thing. When all of one item is in one place, it saves time, extra money and unnecessary frustration for those employees who come looking for it.

2. Even though it might cost money, invest in some sort of storage. It doesn't have to be modern or improve the office decor, but any kind of storage unit is better than nothing. Make sure that whatever storage you get is enough to hold all your current items, plus a little more.

3. Maybe your company or workplace already has storage units, but they are all over the place, unorganized and unrecognizable. Yes, it sounds redundant and unnecessary, but  your organizers need organizing too. If you don't like the idea of stickers, think about metal nameplates like the ones pictured below. Metal signage can come in a variety of styles and colors to meet your needs. Also think of using an alpha-numeric code to further organize cabinets or boxes.

Photo courtesy of Detroit Name Plate Etching Comapany, www.dnpe.com

There's no 'standard' system for organizing  your office. Each company or business is different and needs a different organizational plan. Whatever you choose, make sure that it's understandable and logical. Also, let fellow employees know, so that everyone can work together to keep your shared workplace organized.