Possessing strong organizational skills brings success for you and your workplace. Simply put, organizational skills refer to the ability to think creatively to complete tasks.  Those with organizational skills are better at seeing the big picture and the steps to get there.  Some think of physically decluttering and organizing a room and that’s a part of it. However, developing organizational skills is so much more and involves having the skills to know how to prioritize and complete tasks. Time -Management Skills This includes completing tasks immediately, even if it’s as simple as scheduling and writing down appointments in your calendar. Make sure to review your system daily so you can check off items or move them to tomorrow’s list accordingly. It’s also important to sort through your email inbox because otherwise, it’s overflowing with messages that you don’t need, making it hard to concentrate.  Try for one week to put incoming messages in their appropriate folders and delete the rest to save time down the road. Prioritizing and Planning Skills Learning how to prioritize is important. Often it means that you prioritize by what will give you the best results. You need to know how to plan ahead, set deadlines, and schedule projects, but you also need to know how to communicate with others and explain the steps along the way. Self-Awareness Skills Learn what part of the day you function the best and schedule your most important meetings during those hours. When you are working, try to minimize your distractions. This means closing your door, turning off your phone and notifications except for emergencies, and adhering to your schedule. Filing Skills Many businesses use a digital filing system now, but you still need to record where everything is located, as well as a master document of all the files and their Iocation. You don’t want to waste precious time looking for files. Decluttering and Organization Skills Schedule time weekly to declutter and reorganize your office. Keep a cup full of pens and pencils nearby, but consider storing items you rarely use like company manuals on a shelf.  Sort through your papers weekly, deciding which ones to file and which ones to eliminate.  Remember to never label an item as “miscellaneous,” or it’s bound to add to the clutter.  Keeping your workspace neat and organized helps you focus and makes other employees think you are organized and productive. These are just a few of the organizational skills you need to run a productive business. For more ideas, sign up to hear Juliette Schatan from Refresh Professional Organizers speak in The Amphitheater on March 25^th at 11 am PST about Organizational Tips for Saving Your Business Big Bucks.