John Adair's 100 Greatest Ideas for Personal Success

Idea 53: Deal with your paperwork

The paperwork mountain
FOR ACTION	If you can take complete action, do so at once. If that is not possible, take action. Mark on it what action is needed, then consign it to the pending tray or file. This works electronically as well as with paper. Have an effective ‘brought forward’ system.
FOR INFORMATION	Read and then file, throw away or pass on duly initialled. Comment directly on the paper or track on the electronic file wherever possible.
FOR READING	This is material that does not need to be read at once. Save it for marginal time. Use the folder facility on your computer to help you file things for later.
FOR WASTE PAPER	If the paper fits into none of the above categories, consign it speedily ...