Paper shuffling?

AVOID THIS BY:

 

• Touch each piece of paper once
• Clear your desk of piles – remove clutter
• Discard all non relevant documents
• Do one task at a time on your desk

  

Unproductive meetings?

 

AVOID THIS BY:

 

• Make meeting agendas focussed, specific and stick to them!
•  Start on time and finish on time, don’t wait for late comers
•  Circulate a written agenda and make participants prepare before meetings
•  Limit numbers at meetings

    Procrastination?

 

AVOID THIS BY:

 

•    Do it then review it – often better than thinking about it
•   Write a master list or action plan
•  Refer to longer term goals
•  Break large tasks into smaller ones 
•  Give yourself a reward for completing tasks
•  Create a deadline and try to stick to it

  

Poor Delegation?

 

AVOID THIS BY:

 

•  Determine what tasks only you can do, and delegate other tasks – don’t be a control freak!
•  If you delegate, give a proper brief and seek confirmation of understanding
•  Focus on the desired outcome, not how they achieve it – “80% is good”
•  Communicate deadlines upfront
•  Praise releases energy, criticism kills confidence

 Phone calls?

 

AVOID THIS BY:

 

• Watch the clock, get a timer
• Focus on the purpose of the phone call
• If someone calls, be upfront with the caller as to how long you have to chat. Be polite 
• Summarise the key points to wrap up the call

 

 

 

 

Visitors?

 

AVOID THIS BY:

 

• Be upfront, set a time to start with
• Keep the conversation formal
• Use subtle body language
• More unusual techniques:

o    Ask your visitor if you can get them a taxi

o    Sit close to your visitor and take your shoes off

o    Walk out and just ask them to turn the lights off on their way out

 

 

 

Inability to say ‘No’?

 

• Saying yes to every request equates to saying no to hours and minutes you need for yourself.
• The inability to say ‘no’ stems from an over keen desire to please or ego.
• If it does not contribute to your goals, why are you doing it – it just fills time!

  

Email?

 

AVOID THIS BY:

 

• Sometimes face to face for phone conversations are quicker
• Keep inbox empty except for current tasks 
• Don’t go near email when working on an important task
• Have a set time to respond to emails