DON'T READ REPORTS AT MEETINGS

DON'T READ REPORTS AT MEETINGS

 

Keep meetings shorter by having all reports distributed and reviewed a week ahead.

 

TOO MUCH STUFF?

 

According to an article in USA Today (December 26, 2003) self-storage units jumped 31% in the past year, with I in 8 USA households having one. Add to this statistic The Container Store's sales prediction of $335 million in 2003 and you get the impression that people are buying things and then storing them.

 

HANDLE E-MAIL EFFICIENTLY

Christina Cavanagh, a professor of management communications at the University of Western Ontario claims that on average, North Americans receive about 50 e-mails a day in the workplace. (Toronto Star, November 17, 2003.)

PLACE TIME LIMITS ON AGENDA ITEMS

Spend time on each meeting agenda item in proportion to the importance of the item.

GET YOUR IN-BASKET OFF YOUR DESK

If people don't have to approach your desk to deliver mail, you will have fewer interruptions. And you will eliminate the temptation to grab everything that's dropped in your in-basket.

DON'T PRINT E-MAIL

Paperwork has increased since the advent of e-mail. Don't keep hardcopies if you already have documents in electronic format.

REACH PEOPLE FASTER

Since you are greeted by voice mail when phoning most companies, it saves time if you have the person's extension number handy. Always ask for the extension number when entering a person in your directory. And be sure to include your own extension number on your business card.