Who me? Organized? I never would have expected it either, but it turns out I love a good framework. It is so reassuring to know what to do, when to do it by, how to do it, and where to find everything you need to just get it done.
Over the course of my career, I have used all kinds of tools to stay organized. In a lot of cases, I learned the hard way. It is devastating to work tirelessly on a project only to lose some of the files and have the whole thing fall apart on you. So, I learned to be scrupulous with my records management.
I have best practices for filing, I use uniform naming conventions, and I have backup systems in place.
I use calendars, notebooks and schedules (analog and digital).
Tools I have used:
- Microsoft Office suite, including organization tools like Access, Project OneNote and more.
- SharePoint, Salesforce, Google Drive and other team tools.
- Digital planners like Basecamp, Habitica, Todoist, Trello, Monday and more (I love these tools)
- Also all the email/calendar combos like Outlook and Gmail.
And wherever I go, I create training manuals, succession plans, and step by step guides for how to succeed in the role.
Looking for the best tools or tips to help you stay on top of things? Let’s connect!
Abby W. Pollen 