My house and office are cluttered, I have a bit of a hoarding tendency, and I can manage dust, dirty windows, and stuff on the carpet (not food or cat leavings other than fur) without it bothering me.
I was thinking about this today. I like to get things done right the first time. If I have to repeat something, I like to do so promptly, and get it finished. I even "power through" activities to finish them. If I start something, I want to finish it. If I have a piece of paper in my hand, I want to handle it and be able put it aside. I like to keep things out where I know where they are, even if that looks messy to someone else. Although it irritates me to do so, I am self disciplined enough to do the preparation for things before I engage in a task, so it will go smoothly to the finish.
I sometimes forget to do things, but have an ability to keep things in my brain so I can remember to do tasks. I use lists, sticky notes, and electronic reminders to help me.
Recently, I was visiting with someone who shares knowledge of another individual with whom we had to interact. We were discussing this third person's tendency to be scattered and inefficient. This third person is a wonderful person. But, she forgets things. She puts things in folders, thinks she has finished them, but has not even started them. She loses things. She repeatedly does the same thing. She handles the same paperwork two or three times, putting it down, and never finishing it. She creates for herself an efficiency deficit: Instead of getting organized, and getting ahead, her interruptions, repetitions, starts and stops lose time for her, instead of making her efficient. She continually is "getting behind" because of her inefficiency.
This person has wonderful relationship skills, except that she is often late, and frequently has to be reminded to follow through with things. She knows how to make people feel cherished, important, and appreciated. Until she forgets to do something that puts another person on the spot. She accepts responsibility and vows to be better, but of course, she does not.
I think of some of my coworkers who have the same traits: they cannot meet deadlines, they forget to do little things that would make their job, and that of their coworkers, easier, they start something and do not finish it, they think they have done something, and they have not. They are not plan-ful or mindful of what they do.
I am a person of habit, and some of that leads me not to be mindful: Did I close the windows, and turn on the AC before I went to work? Did I shut off the TV before I left the house. Did I lock the doors? These are things I do rather routinely, without thinking, so then I do not remember if I have done them. I cannot tell you how many times I have turned around to go home and double check myself. I have learned to stop in the driveway before I back into the street, and go through the inventory before I leave the house. This short pause helps me to be more efficient. If I have to check something, I am still at home. And, chances are, I did it already.
Having a plan, having things where they are available, doing things one time, right the first time, handling paper only once, preparing even if that is time consuming, all help me to be more efficient and effective.
I have this quote in my office, from Peter Drucker:
Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things. I hope always to do both.
I will admit that sometimes, I am frustrated with people who are inefficient, and even more so, ineffective.
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