Organizing Seminars
Space Matters™ offer workshops and presentations on a variety of topics tailored to each organization’s needs. Here are some examples of topics I can present to your group.
- On a Clear Day You Can See Your Desktop
- What Would You Do With an Extra 150 Hours a Year?
- Are You Buried in Paper?
- Tame Your Paper Tiger - Find ANYTHING in 5 Seconds or Less
- Taming the Paper Tiger in the Digital Age™
- The Art of Juggling...Managing Multiple Priorities
- Increasing Productivity: Accomplish More with Diminished Resources
- Trim the F.A.T. - How to Conquer E-mail Pile-up
On a Clear Day You Can See Your Desktop
The FAT System™ on its own is a very effective and valuable tool. There are only three decisions you can make about what to do with any piece of paper or other item. File information you want to keep, Act when the ball is in your court and Toss when you don’t need it. You can add depth to the FAT System™ by applying the Art of Wastebasketry®. This tool helps individuals make decisions about what to eliminate. Before keeping any file or piece of paper, ask the following questions:
- Do I still need to keep this information or was it FYI and now I know?
- Does it require any action by me?
- Can I identify specific circumstances where I would use this?
- Is this the best place to the keep this information?
- Does this exist in another form (computer, manual, etc.) or is it difficult to obtain?
- Is it recent enough to be useful, is it outdated?
- Are there any tax or legal obligations?
If the answer to all of the above is “No,” but you are still not comfortable throwing it out, ask yourself:
- Can I live with the worst possible thing that could happen if I didn’t have it?
- If you are comfortable with your answer Toss – Recycle – Shred.
By adding the Magic 6™ we create a place for incoming items and information.
- In/Out/File Trays – to manage incoming & outgoing items.
- Wastebasket/Recycle Bin/Shredder – to eliminate clutter & practice the Art of Wastebasketry®
- Calendar/Planner/Palm – to manage your time
- Contact Management/Database – to manage people & information
- Action Files – to manage items to do
- Reference Files – to manage items to keep
If you don’t know you have it, or you can’t find it, it is of no value to you!
What would you do with an extra 150 hours this year?
We all know that information is power...IF you can find it when you need it. Your filing system can make or break your business. The #1 reason why people pile instead of file is a fear of never finding something again once it gets filed away and is out of sight. Today’s average worker wastes as much as one hour per day—nearly two months per year – searching for lost and misplaced information in their files and on their desks.
Although technology has changed the way we manage information, it has not changed the way we manage paper. Most of us are still using the archaic filing system that George Washington used. Learn how technology can assist you in more effectively storing and retrieving paper and other tangible items in your environment.
Internet Search Engines have done wonders for improving our ability to find information by using a few keywords. A revolutionary software program called Kiplinger’s Taming the Paper Tiger allows you to keep your essential documents in paper form in your filing cabinet, automatically cross-reference the information, and use the search power of your computer to find anything in your files in five seconds or less—regardless of who filed it. You can now index and store documents so mountains of paperwork are instantly retrievable from file cabinets.
Just a few benefits of using The Paper Tiger:
- Streamline your office and lower your stress level.
- Transform your files into a valuable, instantly-retrievable resource.
- Eliminate duplication of information.
- Eliminate the need to duplicate paper and file by category, author, or date.
- Assure fast reaction to audits or other legal actions.
- Reduce disruption from employee turnover.
- Be more responsive to your customers.
Are You Buried in Paper?
There are two primary reasons that people pile instead of file. Fear of never finding it again once it’s filed away and fear of forgetting to follow up on something that requires action if it is put away—out of sight, out of mind. Our system is a proven step-by-step process that will help you get and stay organized. It is easy to implement and easy to maintain. When you use the process consistently, you will be able to:
- Find what you need when you need it.
- Remember important follow-up at the appropriate time.
- Improve your ability to prioritize, focus and concentrate.
- Control your workload instead of it controlling you.
- Eliminate distracting clutter.
- Reduce stress.
- Get more done in less time – increase your productivity by at least 10%!
- Eliminate the paper pile-up forever.
Tame Your Paper Tiger – Find ANYTHING in 5 Seconds or Less
Are you overwhelmed with the piles of paper in your office? Are you afraid you’ll never find things once you’ve filed them away? Do you have a system in place to help you remember important follow-up? Do you need help managing your time and paper better—and improving your work and personal habits? The average executive wastes six weeks per year searching for misplaced papers and files. Imagine the value of being able to use that time in more productive ways! We teach a very simple paper management process so you can effectively manage your daily paper flow and know what to do with every piece of paper that comes into your office. In this workshop you will learn how to trim the FAT.:
- FILE papers so you and others in your office can find anything you file or store with the Paper Tiger in five seconds or less – guaranteed!
- ACT on projects and activities that need your attention at the appropriate time with the right tools to correctly prioritize.
- TOSS what you don’t need. Clear out your clutter as you get clear about what to recycle, what to give to someone else, and when to archive.
Taming the Paper Tiger in the Digital Age™
Do you need techniques for increasing productivity by more effectively managing time, space, and information? We will provide a general overview of the Productive Environment Process and the Paper Tiger principles included in the 8-Hour Miracle™.
- Clutter is Postponed Decisions®
- Today’s mail is tomorrow’s pile™
- The FAT System™
- The Art of Wastebasketry®
- The Magic 6™ tools
The Art of Juggling...Managing Multiple Priorities
Having trouble juggling all your responsibilities and commitments? Do you reach the end of a workday, only to find that you’ve dropped the ball or haven’t accomplished what’s most important? Does your “to-do” list just keep getting longer? We’ll show you how to juggle priorities, handle the demands of others, and accomplish what’s most important—all while maintaining a balanced life! This half-day or full-day workshop will teach you practical methods for regaining control over your schedule. Learn to:
- Identify your key roles at home and at work and create a healthy balance between the two.
- Identify the difference between “urgent” and “important.”
- Eliminate time-wasters, interruptions, and distractions.
- Use a “perhaps” list rather than a “to do” list.
- Recognize the detrimental effects of using “should”, “gotta”, and “have to” in your vocabulary.
- Be proactive rather than reactive. Plan time each week to accomplish what’s most important.
- Use a tickler file to help you remember important follow-up and avoid missing critical deadlines.
Increasing Productivity: Accomplishing More with Diminished Resources
Is your business challenged by having to accomplish more with a shrinking staff and budget? If so, this workshop is for you. Participants will learn powerful tools to help you stay focused on what matters most so you can increase professional productivity and effectiveness, while reducing stress and improving the bottom line. One of the more humane ways to accomplish more in less time is by trimming inefficiencies, and by reorganizing systems that work better in this changing economy. Learn how to:
- Use a weekly planning process that will keep you focused on what matters most and help you use your time most effectively.
- Create a customized tickler file system to remind you of important follow-up without having a “pile system” on your desk.
- Use technology to streamline information management and communications.
Trim the F.A.T. – How to Conquer E-mail Pile-up
Are you drowning in e-mail? Has it taken over your work or home life to the point that you feel you’ve lost control over your schedule? Two-thirds of those interviewed in a Reuter’s survey indicated that information overload had damaged their personal relationships, increased tension with colleagues at work and contributed to a decline in job satisfaction. Email can be a very convenient and helpful communication tool, and it can also wreak havoc on your schedule if you aren’t clear about your priorities and don’t put limitations on how much time you spend online. We’ll show you how to manage your email so it does not take over your life. Learn how to:
- Organize your email into folders for easy maintenance and reference.
- Trim the F.A.T.: use the File-Act-Toss method to maintain incoming and outgoing email files.
- Create an “Action Required” folder to separate the “FYI” messages from those requiring your response or follow-up.
- Stay focused on your purpose for being online.
- Schedule time for handling email and limit the amount of time you spend to that which you’ve scheduled.
- Keep your email files from becoming obsolete.