by Danielle Irving

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It’s that time. Everything is covered in a yellow blanket of pollen. Flowers are blooming. Short sleeved shirts are re-emerging. It finally feels like Spring! My husband is in Europe on business, so I’ve found myself doing some serious Spring Cleaning this week. I’ve gone through my closets and drawers and I’ve managed to fill up several bags of clothing to donate. I feel so much better and more organized. And that got me thinking: Shouldn’t we also do some Spring Cleaning in our organizations?

So, what would that look like? Here are some ideas:

1. Review your database and set some time aside to clean it up. Get rid of duplicates. Go through that stack of returned mail and update addresses. Add those donor reports that are piling up on your desk. Nothing feels better than a cleaned up database!

2. This blog recommends freshening up your conventional donor thank you process. If you usually send a letter, design a picture postcard instead. If you usually send an email, make a phone call.  It’s a great time to get out of your box and try something new. Brainstorm with your staff to comprise a list of new ideas you can use to say thank you.

3. Take a moment to spruce up your work area. Clean off your desk. Bring in some new photographs. Add a vase of fresh flowers. Our work space is a reflection of us and when it is clean, orderly and visually pleasing it can have a strong impact on our quality of work.

4. File, file, file! If you have stacks of papers in your mailbox, take some time to file them away. If you have sensitive or confidential information, schedule time to shred it. Sometimes, just taking an hour or two of dedicated time to tackle a project we’ve been putting off can be tremendously energizing.

5. Streamline your desktop icons. According to this article from Forbes, each morning your office should welcome you and motivate you to do your best work. This includes your computer. If your screen is cluttered with icons, this will trigger your stress hormones. Take some time to create folders to organize everything on your desktop. It’s also a good idea to clean off any post-it notes, since they will only distract you from your work.

Have a fun and productive time with your Spring Cleaning! I hope you enjoy it as much as I have! Happy Spring!

**Congratulations to PLM Families Together on the hiring of their new Executive Director, Lisa Rowe! Armstrong McGuire was honored to conduct this executive search. PLM Families Together’s mission is to move Wake County, NC (Raleigh and surrounding towns) families from homelessness to stable homes through mentoring, housing support and connecting to community resources.** **Congratulations to PLM Families Together on the hiring of their new Executive Director, Lisa Rowe!  Armstrong McGuire was honored to conduct this executive search. PLM Families Together’s mission is to move Wake County, NC (Raleigh and surrounding towns) families from homelessness to stable homes through mentoring, housing support and connecting to community resources.**

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