Category: 1-Minute Strategy

Consider targeting your pitch to the person’s sensory preferences. With a visual person, help him or her picture how your idea will look. With an auditory person, pitch your idea in person rather than in writing.

Stocking your office with a few gift certificates to local restaurants and other businesses makes it easy for your boss to say “Thank you” or “Good job” to team members

Over the past few decades, we’ve become accustomed to pumping our own gas, dispensing our own soft drinks and bagging our own groceries. So, it’s not a stretch to ask customers and clients to serve themselves a bit. Example: Patients waiting for someone to process their payments can address postcards to themselves that will remind […]

Maintain a relaxed smile, whether you’re angry, glad, sad or scared. You don’t need to let everyone know how you feel. Hold your emotion cards close to the vest, says D.A. Benton, one of America’s top executive coaches.

Instead of dashing through a task, slow down and ensure that you understand the instructions. Particularly when dealing with automated systems, failing to follow the steps exactly can cause delays.

Altering your work hours can yield two benefits: a shorter commute time by avoiding rush hours, and quiet time at the office before others arrive or after they leave.

Before Monday morning, set out your wardrobe for the coming workweek and plan your lunches. That’s 10 decsions you won’t have to make later in the week.

If your boss complains about attending too many meetings, volunteer as his or her representative. Standing in for a boss is a great way to increase your profile throughout the office and learn more about the business. Before your first meeting, study background on the issues and clarify with your boss what–if any–authority you have […]

Schedule a lighter workload the first few days after someone returns from a trip. Half of the business travelers polled recently said it takes them up to two days to catch up on work when they return. A similar number said they require that long just to recover physically.

Keep samples of your best design and writing efforts so you can show colleagues and potential employers what you can do for them.