I read something somewhere recently that a piece of paper is handled on average 20 times. I’ve been counting ever since. Not sure if I always get up to 20, but now I’m more aware of the issue, I’ve become much, much better at filing everything. Instead of moving letters around, reports, newspapers and so on I pick them up and do the following; i) letter - in file or in bin; ii) report - in file or in bin; iii) newspapers, magazines - to be read, in filing or in bin. (I must point out - the *recycling* bin).

This may all sound very obvious but it strikes me as being another one of these information management issues which don’t get enough attention. The wake up call for me was a visit to the office of someone I’ve been doing some work with. They are probably the most and best organised person I’ve come across for a long time. What was interesting was how organised her paper is. She’s not a technophobe or anything - works off a laptop during meetings has the latest phone with all that entails.

But all her paper - meeting notes, papers presented at meetings, related papers - are all instantly filed and categorised. Which means when she turns up at meetings she literally has everything she needs at her fingertips.