When you think “productivity tips,” your mind may turn to keyboard shortcuts or organizing tools. But here’s one tip that stands out for its ability to help you reach new heights in productivity: Get up earlier. Productive minds ranging from Benjamin Franklin to Emily Post credit an early rise with their achievement.
Before giving a presentation, listen to upbeat music, or something inspirational.
That depends on your preference. Some use special (and pricey) software programs like Wilson Jones Minute Books to provide archival protection for board of directors’ records. Others find they can just use Word at no additional cost. For the latter, they type up the minutes in a word document, then distribute them to everyone via e-mail both in Word and saved in the .pdf format. The Word document is also kept on the corporate server (backed up daily as well as on a separate weekly backup drive). “We…have eight years of minutes that are accessible in about 15 seconds. Hard copies of our board materials (including minutes) are kept in fireproof fire cabinets permanently.”
Another office says they have eliminated the need for hard copy storage by using Tok-open, a document management software program “plus the recordings of the minutes are kept with a Panasonic voice editing system.” Both are backed up onto the servers daily and weekly.
If you’ve made it this far into the worst economy in decades without experiencing a layoff, chances are you’re out of the woods. Most economists agree that while businesses won’t be hiring much this year, they also won’t be firing much. Could this be the time to ask for a raise?
Pay strict attention to proposal formatting guidelines. A federal agency rejected a $663,000 grant application from an Oregon drug counseling program because its margins were 0.2 of an inch too narrow.
Like it or not, life is easier when you’re easy to like. People want to spend time with you, work with you, promote you, include you, vote for you and do more things for you. So what’s your like-factor quotient?
If your boss can’t say no, have her funnel requests through you so that you can safeguard her time. “No, she isn’t available to speak at that meeting.”
Q: “Until two weeks ago, I had a nice working relationship with “Kate,” my administrative assistant. Then she suddenly stopped talking to me. Now she will only ask necessary business questions. She is fine with everyone else in the office, but won’t even look at me.”
Sometimes, a general word isn’t clear enough when writing e-mail or other correspondence. Use defining words to make sure the reader clearly understands what you’re saying, advises Craig Hogan, author of Explicit Business Writing:
In your new-employee orientation, include information about public transportation schedules and fares.
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