Resources: Workspace Organizing Books

Conquering Chaos at Work by Harriet Schechter delivers exactly what the subtitle states: Strategies for Managing Disorganization and the People Who Cause It. This book addresses chaos in a work setting whether you are a Chaos Creator or the victim of one. Schechter highlights five different types of chaos evident in the workplace for which she provides possible solutions. She also offers examples and suggestions for how a Chaos Conqueror might work more productively with a Chaos Creator regardless of the responsibilities of each employee. The book is filled with realistic examples from Schechter’s organizing practice which further illustrate the usability of her suggestions.

Do you need some New Strategies for Surviving and Thriving at the Office? Julie Morgenstern provides 34 Grab-and-Go strategies in her latest book entitled Never Check E-Mail in the Morning. Strategies, such as beware of multi-tasking, prioritize from the top down, and negotiate for change, center around nine competencies that Morgenstern indicates are crucial to functioning in today’s work environments. The layout of the book encourages readers to implement changes at their own pace.

If you want stress-free productivity, then David Allen’s Getting Things Done might help you. Allen has a specific office organizing program that works well for people who are disciplined but haven’t found the right system yet. Many of his techniques could be added to a current organizing system that needs refining.