Create your own quick-reference guide
Instead of turning to a shelf full of book-marked references, photocopy the most frequently used pages and compile them in a small binder you can stow within arm’s reach.
Year: 2010
The Outlook® Haystack: Finding the needle
I have the opportunity in my teaching travels to witness many people hunting for the proverbial needle in the haystack, a.k.a. their Outlook® inbox. Like many of you who are technically inclined, I have to resist the urge to grab their mouse and keyboard and “show ‘em how it’s done.” Most of us don’t find that helpful at all, just intrusive. Instead, I thought I’d cover it here on my blog. There are 3 easy ways to quickly find what you’re looking for.
Is management right for you?
Question: ‘In my company, the only way to get a decent raise is to be promoted, so I decided to apply for a management job. I expected to receive the same salary as my friend, who has a similar position with another team. When I got the promotion, my new boss didn’t say how much my raise would be. However, he asked me to commit to staying in his department. I told him I would stay as long as the money was right. It turns out that I not only make less than my friend, but I also work about 50% more hours. This promotion has been bad for my health, my family, and the quality of my work. At this point, even a huge raise would not make me happy. I want to transfer to a different department, but I am not sure how to go about it.” — Underpaid & Overworked
Look inward to push your career onward
What are your strengths? How could you improve? A look inward helps you understand your own motivations and helps hone your intuition. Here are guidelines for writing a self-assessment from Sharon Daniels, chief executive of AchieveGlobal.
Keep the party food safe
Certain foods left out in room temperature can carry hidden dangers. Remember that bacteria multiply quickly; after two hours without refrigeration, food poisoning looms.
Quick Excel Tip
Duplicate a style you’ve created in one MS Excel workbook in another workbook. Here’s how:
Identify the nonessentials
If everything on your to-do list seems like a high priority, ask yourself which tasks you would drop if “all hell broke loose” in your office.
Dealing with a hothead? Keep it cool
From the ranting heard at political protests and on reality TV, it’s clear these are angry times. The problem is that many of us don’t know how to effectively handle an angry ranter when confronted with one. We can learn much from customer service professionals, who have honed their skills in defusing a hothead—and not taking it personally.
Start the day without e-mail
E-mail is a notorious time-waster, so knock off a few items from your to-do list before checking your in-box.
Transform the office kitchen
Four easy spruce-ups for the office kitchen: 1. No room for coffee cups? Maximize a small space with storage helpers such as wire stacking shelves. 2. Invest in a trash can that does double duty. 3. Replace plastic foam cups. 4. Add a splash of color and more purified air with potted plants or flowers.