Stever Robbins, who dispenses advice on maximizing your creativity and whipping your e-mail into submission, now is integrating time management and innovation into a coherent system for getting things done. Here are tips from his new guide to working less and accomplishing more:
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.”
With the release of a stable new operating system, Windows 7, many organizations are making the leap to the newer versions of Microsoft® Office. There are five “must have” tips that will get you over the hurdles of the revolutionary new interface and back to work.
Question: “For the past two years, the law firm where I work as a paralegal has had many problems. Going in every day is depressing, because the hang-dog atmosphere radiates everywhere. My immediate boss is under tremendous pressure and treats his staff badly. His temper creates a great deal of stress. I think it may be time to move on. However, if you have any suggestions for surviving here, I will try them. This was my dream job, and I would deeply regret leaving.” — Stressed & Depressed
In our tech-crazed times, now may be a good time to go back to basics. Use these quaint practices to reach out to people.
Extract yourself from unproductive conversations with naysayers, people who only aim to shoot down your ideas. When they launch into a diatribe about what won’t work, respond by saying, “Until we’ve tried everything, I have faith that a great solution is out there.”
Question: “I have been having problems with a female co-worker. ‘Kelly’ and I have always had a friendly relationship, but now she’s avoiding me … I’d like to talk privately and get everything out in the open, but I don’t think Kelly will allow it. What should I do?”— Just a Friend
Check out the Netiquette web site at www.netmanners.com. You’ll find business e-mail basics, Netiquette forums for discussion and a section that allows you to pose your own questions and receive personal advice.
I had a great question last week on our Outlook® webinar. Could Outlook® be used to replace a CRM function when it came to generating tasks with predefined date dependencies. For example, a real estate closing. Earnest money (or binder) is due a certain number of days from the contract date. Loan docs are due a certain number of days after the appraisal, and so on. I answered, No.
After thinking about it for awhile, I came up with a possible workaround using a combination of Excel® and Outlook®.
Question: “I am feeling completely overwhelmed by all my responsibilities. I have worked my way up from sales representative to regional manager in a rapidly growing business. My sales team consistently leads the company.However, I also have four children under the age of 10, and I want to give the best to them. I have considered stepping down from management, but then everything I’ve built will go into someone else’s hands. I will also lose a lot of money. Right now, I feel burned-out, especially because my job requires a lot of travel. I also volunteer for many church and school activities. After investing so much time in my career, should I just give everything up?” — Tired Mom
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