Neat VS Organized - What Really Matters in Your Office

Here\'s an important principle in organizing that many people don\'t know: being neat and being organized are not the same thing. It is totally possible to be organized without being neat, and to be neat yet still be disorganized. Being organized (i.e., knowing where things are, being clear about what needs to get done, and being aware of your goals and progress) is more important than being neat by having all the papers on your desk be in straight piles, or your files uniformly labeled. But the ideal situation is to be both neat and organized.

If youre a visual person, and you know (or you think you know) whats in all those stacks and piles, you may fear that having a neat office will ruin your system of organization. Consider that being neat has its advantages. It\'s actually easier to focus on the task at hand when your environment isn\'t cluttered up with piles, projects, and messages all vying for your attention. Further, having a neat desk and office is crucial if you see clients there, as they will judge you and your company by appearances. If you have staff, they will look to you as an example, and you could find your messiness being emulated at the reception area, where it\'s sure to make a negative first impression. You don\'t need to become obsessive about neatness, but simply to become aware of the costs of appearing disorganized. Even if you think you have a method to your madness, your clients may not share your confidence. Make an investment of time to declutter, file, sort, and purge. It\'s perfectly fine to have things out so you remember to do them. But make sure those things are all that\'s out on your desk, and get the rest put away.

If your desk is neat but you couldn\'t lay your hands on a requested file if your life depended on it, try scheduling time to really get organized, not just look that way. If you have what it takes to be neat, you have what it takes to be organized. Schedule two-hour blocks of time to organize, and just do it. You\'ll be glad you did.

Karen Ussery is an Organizing Specialist, Speaker and Author, and the owner of Organized For Success. She has appeared on HGTV\'s \"Mission: Organization\" and is the Founder and Past President of the National Association of Professional Organizers, Arizona Chapter.

Please go to http://www.organizedforsuccess.com to sign up for free monthly tips on organizing at home and work!

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