Managing a busy, dynamic practice is hard. We have two choices when running our day – be proactive or reactive. Think of this is as choosing between practicing on one’s toes or practicing on one’s heels. Proactively communicating realistic availability and deadlines is increasingly important in the “now” economy. The alternative is to be overrun[…]
The modern workplace is riddled with interruptions and distractions. The demands for our time grow as the response expectations shrink. It’s stressful and exhausting. The trick to working successfully in this environment is to change how we work. We need maintain energy and focus to address all that needs doing. Simply plowing forward with our[…]
Ninety-five percent of us procrastinate. That’s what Professor Piers Steel reported in his book The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done. So, the question isn’t whether we procrastinate. The question is how negatively does it impact our lives? […]
The Dark Side of OptimismWhoda thunk that something so positive could have a dark side? That’s right. Optimism, the feel-good feeling, the basis for the entire self-help industry, the underlying principle of the smiley face can be harmful.
Would Optimism Please Take the Stand
We’ll dispense with the pleasantries, Optimism. Is it not true that you
Guilty on all counts! […]
Easy Ways to Make Business Travel Better
The Silent SymphonyThe modern world is a symphony of noise. The squawks and pings of mobile devices are only the latest editions to the cacophony of rings, bells, announcements, conversations and other noise-producing machinations of daily professional life. Interestingly, getting things done – being productive – is largely a result of silence. In fact, the quieter we can make our internal and external worlds, the more productive we become. […]
Action-Oriented Note Taking Taking notes is a good way to capture and digest the content of a meeting. It also increases focus on the subject matter at hand, as the notes preserve the salient points. Here is a list of abbreviations for use when taking notes to make them even more productive: A is an[…]
You are the Cure for Email Overload
Part 1 of Making Email Better observed that how we use email significantly contributes to its negative effects on our productivity and sense of satisfaction. Last year, the Wall Street Journal reported on a UK study that found up to 80% of email traffic is a “waste!”
Better Mechanics and Better Messaging
We established that focusing on Better Mechanics – use of the tool – and Better Messaging – the manner of communicating – makes email more effective and productive. We covered three best practices suggestions for each. You can review those here.
Swimming in Email
We are overwhelmed with the flood of email. They flow into our inboxes unabated like the ocean tides. We struggle to keep up, often ending the day feeling that we’ve only treaded water.
How can this situation get better? Technology solutions, like spam filters, have helped. But what about all the email that we legitimately receive? What can be done to stem the rising tide?
We are Them – A Dichotomy
The irony of our situation is that we’re doing it to ourselves. This is not the work of auto-bots. Other people are sending us email, and we are sending them email. Focusing on receiver-centeric behaviors – managing the inbound flow – can only help us so much. Receiver-centric efforts are like putting a bandaid on the problem. […]
Bruce Turkel is a nationally recognized expert on branding. He’s also a prolific blogger, one that I follow. Bruce recently wrote about his serendipitous early arrival to the airport in a post titled “Early To Bed. Early To Rise.” It’s a worthy read.
I commented on his post, focusing my message on the importance of being on time. It’s what I call Making Time To Be On Time. Here’s the way I see it.
Being on time – in any form and for any purpose – is important in three specific ways: