Having a system in a physical workplace or when telecommuting is essential to a professional. A neat and orderly environment can contribute to clear thinking resulting to efficient delivery of an assignment.
At a glance, a virtual office may not need much attention to detail, as everything will be online. If your inbox is backed up, unused applications are taking up space, and documents aren’t easy to find, it might be time to evaluate and set up a routine that will work for you.
I start my working day with reading and reviewing my emails to ensure that all directives for the day are followed through. After the emails, I look over my manager’s calendar, confirming and checking on the required background documents for each meeting that’s been set up. Different styles of work will require different methods. A system that works for you is all that matters.
- Ensure that your tasks for the day are in your calendar; master it and when possible use an application like VueMinder (for Windows) or BusyCal2 (for Mac).
- Make sure that your inbox is not cluttered with spam.
- Label and classify correspondence for access and quick reference. Schedule a time to respond to mail and empty your inbox. Avoid mailing lists; they can be distractions as they take time away from work.
- Discard applications, files that are not relevant to your work functions.
- Look for new ways to organize yourself and your work to enhance productivity.
A systematic style and an organized space encourage an orderly and analytical approach to assignments. Perhaps it isn’t true in all cases, but for all intents and purposes, a good virtual office system and methodology can spill into your life. Stick to one that works and you might just surprise yourself!
Written by Yoli P. – The Help