Share phone duties
Create a phone-answering schedule with another admin and automatically forward calls during that period. You’ll both benefit from some time without ringing interruptions.
Toot your horn
Next time someone asks, “So, what do you do?” toot your horn. Don’t hem and haw and answer with something like, “You probably won’t find this interesting, but …,” Carol Roth writes.
One page, please
Trim documents to one page to cut back the time it takes others to read and review your correspondence. You can always explain that support material is available upon request.
Turning nothing into something! PowerPoint tricks with shapes
Start with a simple circle and experiment with the new powerful graphics tools in PowerPoint® 2007/2010. Very soon, you’ll find yourself forgetting all about hours of working in custom graphics packages, painstakingly crafting creative objects to enhance your presentations.
Securing sensitive company information
Your office probably relies on the integrity of its people and its computer systems to secure sensitive information. But is that enough? In an office where sensitive information is at risk, make the “rules of trust” more visible. Joe Larocca, an asset protection advisor, offered these tips on Retail’s Big Blog:
Run efficient meetings
Keep the 10-minute rule in mind when organizing meetings. Start meetings 10 minutes before the hour—at 1:50 p.m., for example, instead of 2 p.m.—to make it more likely that people will arrive on time. And end meetings 10 minutes before the hour, to make them seem shorter.
1-Minute Strategies: Oct. ’10
Tap the knowledge of people in your network with Aardvark … Block yourself from frittering away hours online by trying out these two applications … Boost your energy by tackling an item on your to-do list … Cut out that trip to the post office … Never shy away from negotiating …
Tighten your writing
Avoid repeating yourself by watching out for tautologies: phrases that say the same thing twice. For example: at this point in time; enclosed herein; brief in duration; both together; free gift; mutual cooperation; new innovation; plan in advance; blue in color; resume again; and 2 a.m. in the morning.
The power of one idea per sentence
Write more clearly and persuasively with this strategy, advises Lynn Gaertner-Johnston: Remember the “power of one idea.” That is, one idea for each message, one idea for each paragraph, and one idea for each sentence. Here’s how to remake sentences using the “one idea” strategy.
What’s in a name?
Persuade a customer service rep to be more responsive to your needs by writing his name on a pad as soon as he says it. Then, use his name while speaking with him. He’ll likely solve your problem more quickly.