Category: 1-Minute Strategy

Create a gratitude journal and write down three things you’re grateful for each day, suggests Jan Fraser, public speaker and author. Scientists who study happiness say that daily process can actually bring happiness into your life.

Take a tip from Shakespeare. Distill your thoughts into a single, clear comment or question. Scarcity creates the perception of value, so use your words prudently.

Give employees, customers or internal clients a positive feeling about engaging with you by saying, “I took your suggestion.” Telling them that you valued their ideas enough to use them makes a powerful impact.

Take a breather every hour, for peak productivity. Doris Jeanette, a psychologist with the Center for New Psychology, tells CareerBuilder.com that employees should work for 50 minutes of the hour, then change focus or shift gears for 10 minutes; then repeat.

Search smarter (and save clicks) by using Google’s “I’m Feeling Lucky” button when you want a page within a major site, such as Amazon. Example: Type “amazon freakonomics,” hit “I’m Feeling Lucky,” and go directly to the page you want. It’s faster than visiting Amazon, typing “Freakonomics” and clicking on the book title.

When a colleague complains that someone is taking too many personal phone calls or an extra long break or lunch, simply ask, “Does this affect your work?” When the answer is “no,” end the conversation with, “Then don’t waste your time worrying about it.”

Draw the other person out by asking his or her opinion. People love to talk about themselves. Ask what they think about the latest blockbuster movie, current events, etc.

Save yourself the embarrassment of saying “Nice to meet you” to someone you’ve already met, and forgotten. Instead, say, “Nice to see you.” This general greeting will save you from seeming forgetful.

Gain an extra 30 minutes each day by not hitting the “snooze” button on your alarm clock. More than a third of adults hit the “snooze” each morning an average of three times before rising.

Speed read through documents by ignoring the structure words, such as “the,” “or” and “and,” which account for 60% of the words you read. You can ignore them and still grasp the meaning of a sentence.