6 Tips On How To Stay Organized As A CEO

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Good organizational skills are important to have for everyone, but when running a business, executives have so much on the go at all times that organization and work-management can be a most essential quality. This may seem like a no-brainer, but with everything that needs to be kept track of, adequate organization and efficiency can actually be quite the complicated puzzle to solve.

Anyone’s organizational needs will always be unique to them, and everyone always has their own organization techniques, trends, and styles. There are fall back systems that just feel comfortable and those can vary from person to person. When it comes down to it, the organization structures that feel most comfortable to you are often ones you were introduced to at a young age. That doesn’t always make them the best ones, but that comfort factor can still mean something towards what best fits you.

With new technology always comes new tools and organization is no exception. Online tools, AI systems, automation, and virtual assistant jobs can all offer many great options for helping a busy CEO stay organized, but no matter what tools are being used, there are some things to always remember. Let’s take a look at some of the best organization tips for busy CEOs.

Schedule Going Offline

One of the most beneficial organization techniques is being able to decompress. In today’s world there can be huge benefits overall to focus, stress management, and clear thinking that can be gained through simply turning off sometimes. The online world, and our devices can be necessary to business life, but they can also offer endless distractions and diversions. Getting through many lists of tasks and things to keep track of can be next to impossible when there are notifications and distractions getting in the way. Turning off and going offline can be so helpful for stress management as well as organizational focus. It can really help to have time dedicated to offline focus on specific tasks. Taking breaks to decompress and refocus can be beneficial as well.

Prep Time Can Save Time

Some of the most important parts of organization come from the anticipation, planning, and preparation stages. It is important to recognise what is coming, plan how to react, respond, or address the situation, and then prepare what is going to be necessary to accomplish the desired goals. The more you can invest in these stages, the smoother things will run in coming stages. This emphasis on forethought can really save trouble down the line. It will always be an important balance however, to not get too delayed or bogged down in overthinking.

Organize When To Think And When To Act

Overthinking can be a real issue when it keeps you from delivering on other tasks. Planning and strategizing are very important to running a business, but so are other more hands on or focus demanding tasks. Scheduling time for more freedom in letting your thoughts wander can actually go a long way in streamlining your workflow. Sometimes this can just mean organizing tasks by how much focus or engagement is needed for them, and then knowing when to shut off that side of the creative brain.

Time Management Requires Multiple Perspectives

Time management is vital to staying organized. Understanding how to get the most out of time management is a big undertaking in itself. The thing about time management is that there are multiple perspectives that need to be held simultaneously while also being juggled in priority as necessary.

A successful CEO needs to know where everything stands currently at the moment, and understand how previous plans have affected where things are right now. The current moment is where adjustment lives. So it is so important to have a good understanding of how to best move from what was planned, through what is happening, and on to what is most desired to come next.

There also needs to be the perspective of the coming few months, or whatever fits a short to medium term segment of a project. Where are you going, and how are you getting there?

The long term perspective is also crucial. Broader goals, targets, and possible future paths as responses to possible future outcomes.

A good CEO will be able to hold all of these perspectives, while knowing how to prioritize them.

Segment Responsibilities Into Parts Of The Week

One great trick is to segment responsibilities and tasks into themes for the day or week or whatever fits best. Marketing, sales, finance, HR, or any other areas you can schedule things together fitting a common theme or goal can be grouped to help those tasks flow and compliment each other. One type of thinking at a time can be a real time saver.

Quest Journals: Bite Sized Chunks

Almost nothing helps productivity of any kind like being able to accurately see and understand progress. One of the best ways to organize all aspects of any project is to rigorously detail the steps of all tasks and processes and then check them off as they are accomplished. Quest journals have been used in video games as a way to keep players engaged and help them feel accomplishment in their progress. It’s just part of how human brains process tasks. Giving small milestones that can be measured and achieved will streamline all work processes, including organization and task management.

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John is a serial entrepreneur and writer who is passionate about helping small businesses launch and grow. His work has been featured in Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, and Forbes.