Do you ever wonder how some business leaders are so productive? They are incredibly busy, yet accomplish what they want in less time than many others. As a Professional Organizer, I’m lucky to meet many inspiring individuals who fall into this illustrious category. In this Productivity Pointers from Productive People segment, I am pleased to interview Joanne Loberg, Career Consultant and Executive Coach at JL Careers to learn what makes her so organized and successful.

What are the biggest time wasters in your life? What do you do to manage them?

General emails (not from clients). I review these at the end of my day if I have time.

Tell us about your everyday “essentials” for business (e.g. smartphone, apps, virtual assistant? etc.).

I use the Outlook calendar, my cell phone, and MS Office 365 to ensure everything is backed up 24/7. My administrative team is definitely essential.

How do you manage and organize yourself electronically (online, mobile phone, computer)?

I have a cloud-based system that supports readily 24/7 access to client information, reports and invoicing for myself and my administrative team. This enables quick access to critical client information to support forward planning, invoicing and corporate reporting.  My go-to source for scheduling, meetings and tracking daily priorities is my Outlook calendar.

How do you organize and file your paper information?

I create backup paper files for clients inclusive of meeting reports, contracts and research notes.  Paper files enable the sharing of key resources during client meetings.

What’s your top tip to staying organized & productive?

Keeping focused on my annual strategic objectives. I have reduced these to monthly and weekly deliverables.  I review these weekly to determine if I’m on course or off, and then I devise a solution to get back on track and drive objectives.

What do you do to achieve work-life balance?

My husband keeps me on track. He champions me to unplug and renew, and to avoid working every evening and weekend.
Learn more about Joanne Loberg. Read more productivity pointers from productive people.