Employability Skills Workshop: Organizational Skills

Organizational Skills

Definition of Organizational Skills

• Abilities that allow effective use of time, energy, and resources in order to achieve goals.

• Closely connected to time management.

Organized vs. Disorganized

• Consider how your workspace affects your work or school performance.

• A messy desk can:

  • Make it difficult to find things.

  • Decrease productivity.

  • Create frustration.

• Organized digital files (folders and subfolders) allow you to quickly find what you need.

Organization Skills Can Be Learned

• Organization skills don't always come naturally, but they can be developed.

• Key guidelines to improve organizational skills:

  • Avoid firefighting.

  • Manage your time.

  • Make lists.

  • Begin tasks early.

  • Determine when you work best.

  • Avoid distractions.

  • Make your workspace work for you.

Avoid Firefighting

• Prepare the day ahead by:

  • Thinking about your schedule

  • Gathering the resources you may need.

  • This reduces stress and enables calm, rational problem-solving.

  • Be proactive, not reactive.

Manage Your Time

• Take a look at your schedule for the day.

• Think about each task and how long it will take to complete.

• Break up your day into manageable chunks.

• Make adjustments as needed if tasks run long or end early.

• Goal: Meet deadlines successfully.

Make Lists

• Helps keep your mind neat and tidy.

• Allows you to move on to other thoughts without forgetting anything.

• Sense of accomplishment when crossing tasks off the list.

Start Early

• Procrastination leads to stress and chaos.

• Consequences of procrastination:

  • Late nights

  • Missed lunches

  • Missed family time

  • Less sleep

• Starting early allows for time to accommodate unexpected events.

Determine When You Work Best

• Identify when you are most productive, focused, and alert.

• Work around that time frame.

• Some are more productive in the morning, while others in the evening.

Avoid Distractions

• Common distractions:

  • Cell phone

  • Social media

  • Children or pets

  • Email

  • Gossip

• Strategies to avoid distractions:

  • Turn off notifications.

  • Use app blockers.

  • Check emails at specific times (e.g., beginning/end of day) instead of constantly.

  • Limit social media use.

Make Your Workspace Work for You

• Organize your space based on how you work.

• Ensure you have enough space to work.

Messy vs. Organized Office Desk

• The average person wastes $4.3$ hours per week searching for paper.

• People who work at a clean desk are able to work for $7.5$ minutes longer without losing focus.

Summary

• Improved organizational skills:

  • Save time, energy, and resources.

  • Reduce stress and frustration.