Be an Organized Manager (CAD Manager's Q&A)

I want to get organized and become more efficient as a CAD manager this year. Any ideas?

Robert Green replies: Good question and good goals -- ones I struggle with myself. I can give you a couple of pointers that have helped me over the years.

Realize That Nothing Organizes Itself
Hoping that things will somehow magically get better simply isn't a viable management strategy. Just as the universe tends towards entropy, so do computer and CAD environments. Therefore the first step to getting organized is simply getting started.

Write It Down
If you don't, you'll forget tasks and never get organized.

Prioritize (frequently)
As you write down tasks, organize them in terms of criticality and immediacy. Work on the items in order of priority. And as tasks change, so will priorities, so adjust accordingly.

Review (often)
Go back to your written tasks lists and see how you're doing every week or so. It is amazing how making yourself accountable to your own task list forces you to get organized.

Spread the Message of Organization
Use the ideas above to encourage organization with those in your staff. After all, if they're more organized, you will be too!

If you have any other ideas, feel free to email me!