Category: 1-Minute Strategy

When using voice mail, include your name and phone number, even if you don’t expect a return call. One man left important, lengthy instructions for work to be done during his vacation, but the recipient at the wrong number he had dialed had no way to inform him of his error.

If excessive requests to help your former department or a new colleague interfere with your work, politely explain that you need to focus on your duties and suggest other resources.

The simple act of getting to your feet can be powerful in several situations. When visitors interrupt your work, standing will encourage them to keep it brief. And during negotiations, if one person is standing and the other is sitting, guess who’s in the inferior position.

Having an umbrella, lint brush, sewing kit, extra pair of panty hose or tie and other essentials in your drawer or car virtually ensures that you’ll never need them.

When completing a conversation, summarize key points so that you both agree what has been covered and what will be done.

Give the boss two copies of her travel information: one to take with her and one for a family member or friend who made need to contact her.

Extract yourself from unproductive conversations with naysayers, people who only aim to shoot down your ideas. When they launch into a diatribe about what won’t work, respond by saying, “Until we’ve tried everything, I have faith that a great solution is out there.” Then make a graceful exit from the conversation.

Cut down on the clutter by adopting the “one in, one out” rule when you create file folders. Once you add a new, active file, find one you can slim down, move to long-term storage or retire altogether.

Overcome the fear of starting a daunting project by visualizing yourself doing the task quickly and easily. Negotiate rewards for yourself, such as doing something you enjoy once you’ve knocked out a particular portion of the work, maybe calling a friend or taking a hike.

That’s the first rule of conversation. If you deliver two messages, most people will process just one of them.