Category: 1-Minute Strategy

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.

Boost your influence at work and elsewhere by listening. That’s Warren Buffett’s secret. He makes whomever he’s listening to feel like the center of the universe. The result: loyalty.