Category: 1-Minute Strategy

Get your readers’ attention in e-mails by using their names. People love to hear or read their names. So, use it early and often in your message.

Talk regularly with your boss about your work passions and how you’d like to spend your time. Example: “Here’s what I’d like to be. What sort of experience should I have? How can I prepare myself?”

Identify good team players by looking for experience in sports, clubs and Scouts. Reason: Those activities attract people who are most likely to be courteous, optimistic and enthusiastic.

When you give your boss her travel schedule, include flights before and after the ones you booked. If she finishes early or has to stay later, she’ll have the options handy.

If someone offers unsolicited advice, reply with, “Thank you, I’ll take that into consideration.” And do. Don’t feel obligated to give a snap response that may de defensive.

In your preparation to make a good first impression or strong presentation, make sure you end as well as you start. Have a strong definite finish.

When clients come in for their next appointment, be sure to ask whether you have their current address and phone number and e-mail.

Instead of sending a visitor alone down the hallway, escort him yourself or ask a colleague to accompany him.

Proofread faster by using two columns per page rather than full-page width. It requires less horizontal scanning and often reduces the page count.

Start your long-awaited journel with this three-minute entry: Today, I’m grateful for …”