What’s Your Organizational “Style”?

I believe that everyone has an organizational “style” and that, as a Professional Organizer, my role is to help them find it.  There are many benefits to this approach:

1.  We move into solution mode following a fairly brief assessment.  There is no time for judgment.

2.  Our clients never feel embarrassed and if they do, we help them get past that momentary feeling.

3.  We seek the best solution for our client.  We never apply the same cookie cutter approach to every client because it wouldn’t work.

So what’s your organizational style?  Your organizational style is often related to your learning style;  a) Visual, b) Kinestetic, or c) Auditory.

If you are a visual learner, you will most likely prefer to see everything.  Fortunately, that doesn’t mean everything must be out.  It does imply the use of bright colors and clear containers for your papers and possessions.  In an effort to reduce the visual clutter that often characterizes the homes and offices of visual learners, we find it helpful to create Guides directing them to categorized areas of things.  The visual style of learning is the most dominant and typifies creative people. 

If you are an auditory learner, we employ a more “logical” style of organizational system.  Files may or may not be colorful, but will be categorized topically and then arranged alphabetically within the category.  Color does not enhance the sense of order and foundation for an auditory learner.  The “architecture” of organization must be logical and orderly for an auditory learner. 

For kinestetic learners, we focus on how the organized environment “feels”, and seek to organize according to the style preferences for comfort and order of the kinestetic client.  These clients most often utilize their intuition and there may be some trial and error. 

If you are trying to organize your home independently of a professional organizer, first consider your dominant learning style.  It will guide you to better solutions that will stay in place over time.  Good luck!!

Š