I had a job once in the late ’60s manually separating huge computer production data printouts by department. The process was already a few days behind when I was dropped into it, and I fell further back. Then, returning from a 3 day weekend, I found I was now a week in arears. So I threw out 7 days worth of printouts and was caught up! No one ever complained!
I once worked for a place where one day every manager got brand new In and Out boxes. I wasn’t a manager, but I wanted new boxes also. So, I took some paper and made two labels, “In” and “Out”. I taped them to opposite sides of my trash can, put it on the corner of my desk, and called it the “self-emptying In and Out box.” The idea was that I would leave the “In” side facing out during the day, turn it around when I left at night, and in the morning, the good office fairies would have magically taken care of all my paperwork. My boss saw it and immediately wanted one just like it.
that’s taking middle management to an extreme – however, if the lower echelon cannot communicate with the upper one, then the upper won’t know how self-serving the middle guy is – this happens too often in business.
I followed the “new list every day” technique for a little while: When something comes up that needs doing (except a true crisis), it just gets written at the bottom (or on the back) of today’s list and will be handled in due course. You always work on whatever is at the top of the list. Every morning, the first thing you do is convert yesterday’s list into today’s list, and you do that by prioritizing whatever isn’t already done.
There are nuances: You can keep a list of “I’ll never get to it” tasks and either hand them up to management “I need more help here!” or down to a subordinate “I’m sure you can handle this without my input.” You can double-code items with urgency and importance values, usually converting yesterday’s “important” things into a higher priority on today’s list. But the key feature is: “The morning list never gets longer than one sheet of paper!” with the result that things with low priority simply evaporate off the bottom of your daily list.
strictures about 5 years ago
Obviously, an MBA from Hahvahd Business School!
sirbadger about 5 years ago
It’s the thing you do the day before you retire.
JanBic Premium Member about 5 years ago
If only . . .
Masterskrain about 5 years ago
In any organization, people will rise to their level of incompetence, and remain there!
in.amongst about 5 years ago
The 0th Commandment – Better out than in!
destry1970 about 5 years ago
Could not think of a better thing to do with that stack of waste of time my self!
wirepunchr about 5 years ago
If were only that easy.
Watcher about 5 years ago
The Peter Principle in action.
sandpiper about 5 years ago
Every man’s dream. And then REALITY strikes.
uniquename about 5 years ago
Is this like jumping on a mattress?
I wish my problems could be solved by jumping on them.
suv2000 about 5 years ago
So that’s how they do it
ArtyD2 Premium Member about 5 years ago
Its a wormhole, made by a middle management worm.
the lost wizard about 5 years ago
Can’t you store it on the cloud and hope it rains?
1953Baby about 5 years ago
Anybody remember that mythological tale that using computers would reduce the paper piles to nothing??? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Bendarling1 about 5 years ago
Sure Boss, I’ll get right on it…
tripwire45 about 5 years ago
Is that how cartoon strips are created?
psampson about 5 years ago
Easier to switch basket labels, isn’t it?
k8zhd about 5 years ago
I had a job once in the late ’60s manually separating huge computer production data printouts by department. The process was already a few days behind when I was dropped into it, and I fell further back. Then, returning from a 3 day weekend, I found I was now a week in arears. So I threw out 7 days worth of printouts and was caught up! No one ever complained!
Durak Premium Member about 5 years ago
IN
OUT
Shake it all about.
GreasyOldTam about 5 years ago
I once worked for a place where one day every manager got brand new In and Out boxes. I wasn’t a manager, but I wanted new boxes also. So, I took some paper and made two labels, “In” and “Out”. I taped them to opposite sides of my trash can, put it on the corner of my desk, and called it the “self-emptying In and Out box.” The idea was that I would leave the “In” side facing out during the day, turn it around when I left at night, and in the morning, the good office fairies would have magically taken care of all my paperwork. My boss saw it and immediately wanted one just like it.
DCBakerEsq about 5 years ago
Who still has an “In” box?
Ray about 5 years ago
“Action passed is action completed.”
Bookworm about 5 years ago
Another successful graduate of Trump University.
gmu328 about 5 years ago
that’s taking middle management to an extreme – however, if the lower echelon cannot communicate with the upper one, then the upper won’t know how self-serving the middle guy is – this happens too often in business.
Ginny Premium Member about 5 years ago
which is why so many middle managers are being laid off!
anomaly about 5 years ago
Work under pressure.
stillfickled Premium Member about 5 years ago
It doesn’t make sense how the papers got to the other bin. Oh yeah, it’s a comic.
Concretionist about 5 years ago
I followed the “new list every day” technique for a little while: When something comes up that needs doing (except a true crisis), it just gets written at the bottom (or on the back) of today’s list and will be handled in due course. You always work on whatever is at the top of the list. Every morning, the first thing you do is convert yesterday’s list into today’s list, and you do that by prioritizing whatever isn’t already done.
There are nuances: You can keep a list of “I’ll never get to it” tasks and either hand them up to management “I need more help here!” or down to a subordinate “I’m sure you can handle this without my input.” You can double-code items with urgency and importance values, usually converting yesterday’s “important” things into a higher priority on today’s list. But the key feature is: “The morning list never gets longer than one sheet of paper!” with the result that things with low priority simply evaporate off the bottom of your daily list.
slbolfing about 5 years ago
If it were only that easy…:)
fix-n-fly about 5 years ago
I like it! But most of my work is not with paper, it is in the computer. I don’t think my computer will react favorably if I jump on top of it!
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 5 years ago
Now that is cartoon physics.
01apocha about 5 years ago
Me to
bakana about 5 years ago
I tried to get one of those In Boxes, once.
But, they were just too Expensive, so the boss refused to pay for it.
idlecuriosity about 5 years ago
IN = “things that solve themselves with the passage of time” OUT = “things that have solved themselves with the passage of time”…
Bicycle Dude about 5 years ago
Geez, I wish I’d thought of that. It certainly would have made work a lot more pleasant.