Organizational Skills

Organizational skills allow you to arrange your thoughts, time, and tasks in a structured way to efficiently accomplish goals. They involve applying a systematic approach to every undertaking. Being well-organized will benefit your performance at work. This essential soft skill will let you multitask, avoid serious mistakes, and meet deadlines.

6 Tips to Help You Develop Organizational Skills

Some people are naturally very well-organized, but others are not. If you are disorganized, there's no reason to live with the chaos. Improving your organizational skills will allow you to be more efficient at work and that could benefit your career.

First, learn how to get your space in order:

1. Assign Everything to Its Own Place: Avoid wasting time searching for often-used supplies by always keeping each item in the same place. For example, if you keep the printer paper in the cabinet under the printer, your stapler in the top desk drawer, and paper clips in a dispenser on your desk, they will always be there when you need them.
2. Follow the "Touch it Once" Rule: Many organizational experts adhere to the credo that you should only touch an item one time before deciding what to do with it: file it, toss it, or deal with it. Apply that rule to both the physical inbox on your desk and the one on your computer.
3. Get Rid of Clutter: Keep your desk and office or cubicle tidy. It is much easier to stay organized when you are not surrounded by clutter.

Then, see how to organize your time:

1. Write To-Do Lists: Before beginning a project, write down all the steps that you will need to take to complete it. Then prioritize them in any order that makes sense. If there are steps that must be completed before others, list those first. For some projects, it's preferable to take care of simpler tasks before going on to more complex ones.
2. Note Deadlines on a Calendar: Use a calendar that syncs across multiple devices such as your phone, tablet, and computer. Set up reminders that will alert you about approaching deadlines. Some people prefer to hang a large calendar near their workspace as well because it serves as a visual cue.
3. Set a Routine and Stick to It: Having a routine is key to staying organized. That means beginning and finishing work at the same time every day, even if you have flexibility in your schedule. Allocate specific periods to work on particular tasks and make a point of scheduling regular breaks throughout the day.

Careers That Require Strong Organizational Skills

You will need to be well-organized regardless of your occupation, but some careers require exceptional organizational skills. Here are a few of them:

• Event Planner: Event planners coordinate private parties, conventions, trade shows, and business meetings. 
• Loan Officer: Loan officers work for banks and other financial institutions and help people obtain loans from them.
• Management Analyst: Management analysts help companies change their structures, increase profits, reduce losses, and improve their efficiency.
• Registered Nurse: Registered nurses, or RNs, provide healthcare services to patients and advise them and their families.
• Licensed Practical Nurse: Licensed practical nurses, or LPNs, care for patients who are ill or injured. They work under the supervision of RNs.
• Paralegal: Paralegals help lawyers with a variety of tasks including research and drafting of legal documents.
• Social Worker: Social workers connect people with services including government assistance, child care, adoption services, and mental health support.
• Architect: Architects design buildings, making sure they are aesthetically pleasing, safe, functional, and meet the needs of their inhabitants.
• Attorney: Attorneys, also called lawyers, represent clients who are involved in criminal and civil legal cases.
• Doctor: Doctors examine patients and diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries.
• School Principal: Principals manage all the activities in elementary, middle, and high schools. They establish educational goals for their students and faculty.
• Teacher: Teachers help students learn and apply concepts in a variety of subjects.
• Engineer: Engineers solve problems by using their scientific and mathematical expertise.
• Dentist: Dentists examine patients' teeth and mouth tissue in order to diagnose and treat problems.
• Dietitian or Nutritionist: Dietitians and nutritionists plan food and nutrition programs. They supervise the preparation and serving of meals and promote healthy eating habits.
• Marriage and Family Therapist: Marriage and family therapists treat families, couples, and individuals, working from the perspective that those with whom we live have an impact on our mental health.
• Health Educator: Health educators teach people how to live healthy lifestyles in order to avoid health problems.
• Financial Advisor: Financial advisors help clients plan for long and short term financial goals.
• Fashion Designer: Fashion designers create suits, pants, blouses, shirts, and dresses, as well as accessories like shoes and handbags.
• Human Resources Assistant: Human resources assistants tend to clerical tasks in companies' and organizations' human resources departments.
• Market Research Analyst: Market research analysts design surveys that help companies figure out what products and services to sell and who their potential customers are.
• Public Relations Specialist: Public relations specialists communicate their employers' or clients' messages to the public.
• Marketing Manager: Marketing managers create strategies that help companies sell their products and services.
• Urban or Regional Planner: Urban and regional planners help communities determine the best use of their land and resources.
• Survey Researcher: Survey researchers design and conduct surveys that are used to collect information about people and their opinions.