According to the Los Angeles Times, January 10^th was National Clean Off Your Desk Day! (Did you celebrate?) Office workers lose the equivalent of almost a week of work a year looking for files, online documents, staplers and other materials, according to a 2010 study funded by office-products maker Brother International Corp. A lack of organization can lead to other losses. If you don't file your tax records on time because you can't find your receipts, if you can't find something you need for an important meeting or if you have a payment due but can't find your records...this kind of disorganization can cause you serious problems.  
 

Here are five things you can do to make the most of your New Year:
 

1. Get organized

Organize your office - This includes your desk, files, books, rolodex, etc. Take time to go through things that have been piling up and make order out of chaos. This will pay off when things get busy and you need to locate a resource or item quickly.

Organize your computer - Many of us keep a lot of data stored on our computers but, over a period of time, these files can get out of hand. Take some time to look over your information, re-sort your files and delete things you do not need. This will help your computer and you to function more efficiently!

Organize your home - Take a  look at things in your home and start sorting. Tackle a room, closet or even a drawer that has been accumulating contents that need to be sorted. Make a give away, throw away and put away pile and separate all those items that have accumulated over the past year. Be brutal! In most cases, if you haven't used something in two or three years, you can probably do without it.

Organize yourself - Are there some things you've been meaning to do that will contribute to your personal sense of health and well being? Now is a good time to get started. Go through your wardrobe and update your look. Start that new eating or exercise plan you've been thinking about. Take time to ponder those things that are important to you and set some goals for the New Year that will bring you personal satisfaction.
 

As a member of the New York Association for Psychological Type, I get to hear some excellent speakers. Recently, John Hagan, the regional representative of Consulting Psychologists Press (CPP) for New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, spoke on the topic of Informal Learning.

John explained the difference between Formal Learning and Informal Learning. These terms do not have to do with the formality of the learning process, but rather with the determination of who controls the learning goals and objectives. Formal Learning happens when the training department or professional development arm of an organization sets the learning goals and objectives. In an Informal Learning environment, the learner sets the goals and objectives. While organizations spend about 75% of their resources on Formal Learning, 80% of the people in those organizations say that they get the most value from Informal Learning!

Not all Informal Learning is appropriate or even accurate. A person may receive wrong or incorrect information from peers or from resources like Wikipedia. At its most valuable, Informal Learning takes place within a structured environment. For example, one of the most valuable components of all learning is the Motivation to Learn. Organizations need to provide a context for learning, giving people a reason to participate. Time is precious to all of us in today's hectic environment. There needs to be a sense that, if I engage in this learning, I will do better. I want to know there is a benefit to me.

According to a 2008 survey of 800+ HR and leadership development managers, over 30% of all corporate training programs are not delivering any measurable value. Nearly all millennial employees (under age 25) expect their employer to provide an on-demand learning portal, similar to Google and YouTube. However, even with an Informal Learning tool (such as CPP's MBTI® ThinkBox - an online program designed to help users to learn more about the Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment®), there still needs to be a structure and context to optimize use of the application

So, what are some keys to maximizing the learning process?

• Promotion. Let people know about the vehicle for Informal Learning (online application or learning portal) and cite its value
• Establish an initial benchmark (measurement)
• Provide a mechanism for the learner to establish a clear goal
• Establish accountability, so that the organization knows the application is being utilized
• Have a mechanism for tracking results. This benefits both the learner and the organization

 Additionally, identify people who will serve as the human element essential to Informal Learning. These include:

• Subject Matter Experts - Individuals who can serve as a source of accurate information
• Coaches/Mentors - Individuals who encourage and promote greater awareness and understanding
• Role Models - Individuals who demonstrate command of a subject and who can use it successfully
• Peer Partners - Individuals who share a similar level of knowledge and experience with a subject

 In an organization that strives for continuous improvement, everyone needs to take responsibility to keep learning. As we start the new year, this is a great time to evaluate the effectiveness of your training program and to put elements in place that guarantee a quality learning experience for all.