Tips for Managing Tasks and Time in the Office

My followers know that I have worked from home more than out of the home. However, over the years I was asked many times how to manage tasks and time in a formal office setting. After all, working from home is different than working in a formal office. In Tips for Managing Tasks and Time in the Office I give first hand experience in dealing with demanding bosses and overload.

In 2008 I started working in a formal office, which gave me insight as to what type of organizational skills and tools are needed for people who work for someone else. I’ve taught Personality Based Time Management^© for many years and would always ask my customers what their work day was like so as to better help them. I first started getting questions from more and more from customers in mid-2007. These women worked in formal offices and couldn’t find a system to help them keep it all together. They didn’t know how to manage tasks and time in the office and the planners offered were cumbersome and overwhelming or lacking. Sometimes I got stumped as to what to say.

Working in a formal office setting helped me figure out why many of the ladies were in need of more effective time management skills. There is often too much work for one person. Sometimes they spend more time writing to-dos and updating the list than they do working on the tasks. Keeping track of what’s completed or not and how to manage that information is sometimes mind boggling.

Managing tasks and time in the office

In an office setting, I keep my planner on my desk but most importantly I also use a 6×9 pad of paper. A 6×9 pad of paper is easier to tote around than an 8″ x 11″ pad. Each day I put the date at the top of the page and write my daily notes and to-dos. I update this list throughout the day. Next, I set aside time to do certain tasks. As I finish a task, I put a check next to it or sometimes cross it out.

On a good day we would have a team meeting with the supervisor to let him or her know what we had planned for that day so there would be fewer interruptions. On other days, the supervisor could look at my list and if need be, re-prioritize it with me. Having a list also showed that I had a plan for my day. Many employees don’t do this, and therefore, there’s no accountability. At the end of my workday I look at my list to see what has been accomplished.

If there are too many items left to do, here’s what I did:

1. I touched base with my supervisor and re-prioritized the list.
2. In the morning, before email, I checked my list.
3. If there are not too many items left to do, I put all unfinished tasks on a new sheet, in order of priority based on what the supervisor said the day before.
4. If there are too many items to transfer to the next day, I number the items based on priority.

It works well and I was pleased with the results. Not having a binding at the left side of the pad of paper is also a plus.

What does your work day look like? Ask for help in the comments below and let me help you too. –Susie

This brings me to Personality Based Time Management^©. There is no, “one size fits all” planner or organizer. Everyone needs to figure out their unique style and set up the tools that will work best for them. My articles can help you get started in the right direction, but in the end, there is only one you. Who knows what you need better than you?

Check out The Busy Woman’s Daily Planner and see what pages are right for you!

Blessings and Organization,

Susie

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