Category: 1-Minute Strategy

When you are interrupted just as you are trying to finish a task, quickly ask the interrupter to wait a moment. Completing the task now will be faster than returning to it later.

Don’t end up with 27 desserts and no entrees at the next gathering. Create a sign-up sheet with categories, and everyone will be able to see what is needed. Include a section for cleanup volunteers.

Mention in passing when you’ve learned something positive from your boss—without laying it on too thick. Example: “I’m borrowing your technique for negotiating with vendors, and it’s working.”

If you’re responsible for buying birthday cards for the office, buy several at a time so you don’t have to make a special trip every time one is needed.

When seeking ideas to help solve a problem, tell the person what you already considered or tried. She might be able to build on one of those ideas.

When writing a phone message, jot down the correct way to say the caller’s name along with the other information. You don’t need to use the phonetic alphabet, just a note like, “Mr. Behr (pronounced Bear).”

Eye have a spelling chequerIt came with my pea see.It plainly marques four my revueMiss steaks eye kin knot sea. There’s a danger if you rely solely on your computer’s spell checker.

Be prepared to answer two questions when pitching an idea or attempting to influence your boss: (1) How will the organization benefit? (2) How will my boss benefit?

If you berate yourself when you make a mistake, you’ll worsen the damage. But if you say, “I’ll fix this,” or “I sure learned from that,” you turn a negative into a positive.

Giving a presentation? Speak in your natural tone. Optimism should flow from your authentic personality. If you adopt an artificially perky tone, listeners may find it grating.