Changing with the Times...

The days of going to one office and working from 9 to 5 are over for most. Easy access to the information you need wherever you may be working is crucial to staying competitive. However, converting to an electronic format can be daunting. Creating and carrying through with record management policies is key to success.

Barbara Hemphill, of the Productive Environment Institute, suggests six questions that should be asked when thinking about establishing those policies...

• What information do I need to keep?
• In what format?
• For how long?
• Who is responsible for filing the information?
• Who needs access to it?
• How can we find it?

Often it is helpful to schedule a day to eliminate unnecessary paper in your office. Giving yourself and others permission to get rid of things that are no longer useful frees you to focus on the things that matter.