Category: 1-Minute Strategy

When you fail, determine whether the poor result came from something you control (like lack of hard work) or something you don’t control (like insufficient time or budget). That will tell you how to improve next time, or whether to stop blaming yourself.

Don’t overlook obvious places to display officewide info: The copier, fax machine and near the breakroom coffeepot are great places for posting information.

Skip the pleasantries. Saying something like, “I hope you’re having a good day” clutters your message and wastes the recipient’s time. Focus on the facts you must convey, such as your name and phone number.

Resist the urge to send out an incendiary e-mail by imagining it on the front page of your company’s newsletter. Ask yourself: “Would I be embarrassed?”

Avoid anything that could diminish your professional image. If an executive wouldn’t do it, you shouldn’t either. For example: An executive would never produce a company newsletter that contains recipes.

When a long-winded colleague parks in your workstation and launches into a monologue, resist the urge to respond in any way, even with a simple “uh-huh.” Every utterance gives the talker reason to continue.

When dealing with papers, Only Handle It Once (OHIO). If you find yourself picking up the same paper, examine why you’re delaying action.

Don’t undermine your message by apologizing for your stance or using unnecessarily soft tones. When you’re submissive, you show a lack of self respect.

Lay a foundation for success by comparing your responses to these queries: “When my colleagues think of me, what am I most known for?” and “What do I want to be known for?”

Find synonyms faster by right-clicking the word on your screen. That will bring up Microsoft Word’s thesaurus function.