posted 01-14-2002 12:29               

Clearing the Decks: The Practice of Amnesty Day
by Janice Molloy

Most of us postpone getting through that reading pile, sorting e-mail messages, or putting finishing touches on files from completed projects in order to pursue more value-creating activities. Yet such tasks—if left to accumulate—can turn into major productions—and distractions—that may undermine overall effectiveness.

To help employees gain an upper hand on hidden drains on productivity, at Pegasus Communications, we've instituted a semiannual ritual known as "Amnesty Day." It's a time for staff to clear several months' accumulated detritus in order to move ahead with renewed vitality, energy, and lightness. Scheduled well in advance so everyone can clear their calendars, on Amnesty Day, anything that impedes work productivity is fair game. One person may choose to clean his office while another may catch up on paperwork and make long overdue phone calls to potential vendors.

To avoid diluting the process, we let the answering machine pick up any phone messages. We send or respond to e-mail only if doing so fulfills one of our personal goals for the day. And we only talk to each other in the middle of the day, when we meet for lunch, and at the end of the day, when we gather to assess our progress and suggest improvements for future Amnesty Days.

After tidying up, people feel more energized and clear-headed. And each of us has noticed lasting progress on our personal organizational challenges. Over the long run, taking the opportunity to get things in order means more time spent on productive functions that add value to your company!

Read the complete article on our web site.