Encore Speaks!

On Saturday I had the chance to attend the New Media Dayton event at the Pub at the Greene. I was thrilled to re-connect with friends and acquaintances that I had not seen since the holidays and we shared laughter and some funny stories about our various holiday experiences. There was still work to be done, though, as New Media Dayton had asked an outside team to join us to talk about their own organizational skills and processes and to motivate us to take a new look at our own. Lori Firsdon and Barb Warner, two amazingly powerful motivational speakers and professional organizers, were right on the money as they addressed the topic of organization. They brought to our attention, all of us media and technology addicts, what the concept of organization means in our world. They weren't shy about asking us to put down our cell phones, flip cameras and laptops while they spoke ... and I commend them for that as many of us didn't want to loosen the grip on our electronic devices. When Lori and Barb finally had our attention, they hit on some heavy topics such as how much money we are actually costing our employers when we perform a search for just one hour, each day of the year. Their staggering statistics and reality check really made me, and I hope others there as well, wake up to the fact that time spent searching for everything from my car keys and cell phone to a folder that I thought I had filed away is costing everyone, not just me, time and money.

Lori and Barb also touched upon the topic of "that co-worker" who habitually steals your time with pointless and aimless conversation. Simple fixes such as how you position your desk and removing any candy, pictures or plaques that might keep a person lingering for conversation are just some of the ways you can keep interruptions to a minimum so you can concentrate on your work and work flow. Simply asking oneself and gently asking co-workers, "can this wait?" not only helps you prioritize your time, but sends the message that some conversations and topics don't really need to be discussed at work amid the hustle and bustle of work flow.

Finally, Lori and Barb hit upon something which is personally difficult for me ... wading through the countless articles and publications that are subject-specific to my field. Any person in social media or any other information-oriented position will tell you that every day they are constantly bombarded with emails, alerts and notifications. With all of this content filling up our inboxes, it is hard to read each and every word that is sent our way. Barb’s solution to that overwhelming feeling when get when you receive massive amounts of information? "Stop queuing up the small minutes.” Start by initially weeding out the mass amounts of useless information and focus on what is important and pertinent right then. Specifically ask yourself "can this wait?" or "am I really going to use this information?" before taking the plunge.

Not only did I find both Lori and Barb to be fascinating as professionals, but their approach was realistic and sensitive to our needs. Even I, who I thought was somewhat organized, learned a lot. And take it from them: they have seven kids between the two of them, so organization isn’t just their jobs, it’s their lives!