Category: 1-Minute Strategy

Keep the 10-minute rule in mind when organizing meetings. Start meetings 10 minutes before the hour—at 1:50 p.m., for example, instead of 2 p.m.—to make it more likely that people will arrive on time. And end meetings 10 minutes before the hour, to make them seem shorter.

Avoid repeating yourself by watching out for tautologies: phrases that say the same thing twice. For example: at this point in time; enclosed herein; brief in duration; both together; free gift; mutual cooperation; new innovation; plan in advance; blue in color; resume again; and 2 a.m. in the morning.

Persuade a customer service rep to be more responsive to your needs by writing his name on a pad as soon as he says it. Then, use his name while speaking with him. He’ll likely solve your problem more quickly.

Expect this on most days: Something unexpected will pop up. So, reserve an hour a day or a half-hour between appointments in your schedule and your boss’s. That way, you won’t have to juggle so much when something unexpected demands your time. And if nothing does, you can knock out more items on your to-do […]

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.

Since you can’t complete everything on your to-do list today, know what can wait until tomorrow with the least consequence. This strategy turns procrastination into a time-management tool.

If you want everyone to arrive on time for your meeting, don’t set it on the hour, half-hour or quarter-hour. Set it for something like 8:07 a.m., suggests consultant Charlie Hawkins. “They’ll come on time for curiosity, if nothing else,” he says.

Next time someone asks “When could you have it ready?” resist the temptation to blurt out the earliest–and possibly unrealistic–date just to please the client and show your efficiency. Instead, ask, “Is time a factor for you?” The answer will tell you the real time frame. You may find that time isn’t a major factor, […]

“Catch them doing something right” is a classic management tool that works both ways. So, give the boss an occasional pat on the back. Tell the boss that he or she delivered a dynamite presentation or that you appreciate the latest office perk.

When a colleague asks you about sensitive information you’re privy to, don’t deny or lie about what you know. Say, “Yes, I’m aware of the situation, but I can’t share the details.”