Desk Management

by Narayanan Anantharaman
(Mumbai,Maharashtra, India)

A clear desk management is one of the most important parts of the manager's job. From the way you manage your files, documents, stationery's etc gives an impression as to how well the person is managing his work.

Many times we might have experienced that we had kept the folder at one place but later on when we need it is not readily available. To avoid such kind of situation one should maintain their files in a file rake or could label their drawers into various categories (such as stationary, documentation (general) and confidential). This will increase the probability of getting your papers and files readily available.

Desk Management even plays an important role with respect to reminding the day to day activities.

Let me give you a hint, you know of that bulletin board that dusts on your office wall? Use it! It's a very effective tool to help you manage your files and your workload properly. At the start of each day you put on the action points, the main goals and activities for the day. This is going to serve as a checklist throughout the day and at the end of each day, revisit the board and, if needed you could put down the points for tomorrow by EOD. With a ticker you could stick the same point on the edges of your PC and revisit throughout the day.

Often times, managers are not organized enough to make notes during a phone call. Here's when your desk management skills play an important role.

Always, keep a pen (or a stack of pens) in your pen-holder, right near the phone, or wherever it's handy for you, together with a small notepad.

Since this is a modern world of computers you could always open a notepad readily opened in your PC for noting down information.

By implementing the above activities,or rather by getting used to "desk management routine" you are going to love your place of work and your job.