Category: 1-Minute Strategy

Just as smile on your face affects your tone of voice when talking on the phone, so does your inattention. Watch out for “surfer’s voice”: If you check e-mail or scan web pages, the person talking to you may sense your inattentiveness even if he or she doesn’t hear keys tapping.

Instead of turning to a shelf full of book-marked references, photocopy the most frequently used pages and compile them in a small binder you can stow within arm’s reach.

Certain foods left out in room temperature can carry hidden dangers. Remember that bacteria multiply quickly; after two hours without refrigeration, food poisoning looms.

If everything on your to-do list seems like a high priority, ask yourself which tasks you would drop if “all hell broke loose” in your office.

E-mail is a notorious time-waster, so knock off a few items from your to-do list before checking your in-box.

Communication breaks down when people fail to address someone’s question. Even if you can’t come up with a ready answer, acknowledge that you heard the question and provide a preliminary or qualified response.

Fail to press for a pay raise and you’ll sacrifice more than salary. You’ll also miss an opportunity to show your bargaining savvy, which is a key skill in any position you crave.

Aspire to perfection, but don’t let the pursuit slow you down. And don’t dwell on mistakes. “If you deal with any business faux pas properly, others will get over it and you should, too,” advises executive coach Marjorie Brody.

Guarantee people less than you know you can produce. Then wow them by surpassing their expectations.

These two figures can sound alike when spoken. Say the digits individually: “I’ll need lunch for 15, that’s one-five.”