If you spend enough time talking to people about their work and their roadblocks, you’ll hear the following phrase fairly often:
“I’m just not a very organized person.”
Guess what? I don’t buy it. Being “organized” isn’t an inherent trait. I believe it’s a skill set that requires practice, discipline, and repetition to master. Everyone has it in them to be an “organized person” if they want to be!
Of course, we didn’t all take the same path to entrepreneurship, which means that certain skills got honed faster than others, usually out of necessity. You might have put in the time to become an incredible leader or an inspiring public speaker, but your organization skills? Not so much.
Luckily, we can choose to prioritize organization at any season of life and business to become a more structured person. In fact, you can lean on the skills you already use on a daily basis to cut through the clutter, find what you need when you need it and create more space to grow.
In this post, we’ll take a look at seven skills that can take you from slightly scattered to the totally organized boss you want to be.
Ready to get started?
Skill #1 – Self Care
This may seem like a strange one to start with, but I am not the first person to say that you need to put on your own oxygen mask before you can take massive action anywhere else.
What does self-care look like for you? Some people might require energetic movement, some prefer quiet meditation, and others may get a lot out of visualization practices. Do something for yourself at the start (and even the end) of each workday and you’ll see it pay off in your work. Trust me on this.
Skill #2 – Time Blocking
Organized people take charge of their calendars. If you feel like your schedule has been running you lately, it’s time to make a change. Time blocking is a secret strategy amongst high performing entrepreneurs. In fact, I wrote about the Pomodoro Method, a popular time blocking technique, in a recent blog post.
When you set aside a chunk of time for projects and other activities, you’ll instantly become more productive and more organized because you won’t be trying to spread your resources and your energy across multiple tasks at once.
Skill #3 – Weekly Check-Ins
If you have a team, make it a priority to hold weekly check-ins with them. I am a huge fan of “stand-up” meetings if you are able to meet in person. If your team is virtual, a quick 15-minute Google Hangout or Zoom call to touch base and discuss priorities for the week ahead can be a game-changer.
For solopreneurs, weekly check-ins are still important. Check-in with your business coach, strategist, or even your business bestie to stay on track and accountable!
Skill #4 – Measure, Measure, Measure
You MUST keep track of your numbers. Set a reminder on your phone or enter it in on your Google Calendar as a weekly recurring task. Measuring how you’re doing will allow you to make more informed decisions rather than just “trusting your gut” or reacting to a temporary emotion like fear.
Keep your numbers in a spreadsheet with the date and share the data with everyone who needs to see it. Refer back to it whenever you set new goals or need to determine where to spend your valuable resources.
Skill #5 – Quarterly Planning Sessions
You’d be amazed by how many entrepreneurs don’t schedule regular planning sessions. I get it; it’s easy to get swept up in the daily tasks and let big-picture planning fall to the wayside.
I encourage all entrepreneurs and business owners to schedule a quarterly planning session every 90 days or so to review the previous quarter and plan ahead for the next one. It’s the perfect opportunity to make adjustments and realign what’s important and what’s not important in your business.
Skill #6 – Project Management
During your quarterly planning session, it’s also a good idea to set aside a little bit of time to map out the steps you’re going to take to reach each one of your big-picture goals. Breaking your projects down into more manageable sections with clear start and end dates will make it so much easier to execute on them.
Once you’ve done this, I strongly encourage you to hand the information over to an appointed project manager so it can be tracked. This is something that can easily pull your focus away from what really matters, aka your zone of genius.
Skill #7 – Walk Away & Let Go
Allowing yourself the freedom to let go and not do #allthethings is key. Most entrepreneurs are inundated by ideas all day long. This trait is what positions them for amazing success, but it can also be overwhelming, distracting, and it can quickly suck up precious time and energy.
Learning to walk away from your to-do list (even if it’s a well-organized one) is a boss move, and while it doesn’t always feel intuitive, I promise it can be one of the biggest keys to your long-term success. No one does great work when they’re burned out.
Ready to make BIG things happen? I can help guide your growth with strategic guidance, a personalized growth plan, and laser-focused support. Let’s schedule a discovery call to chat about your business and your big goals! Book a 20-minute zero obligation video call with me here.