Editors Note: This is part one of a three-part series. You can read the other parts of the series here: Part 2 and Part 3.
Globalization continues to redefine how we work. Colleagues and clients are scattered across the country, the continent and the globe. Finding new ways to work productively together is vitally important to our success and the success of our organizations.
Consider these suggestions to maximize the productivity realized while working in these new global, distributed work environments.
- Start a Meeting Diet. Cut meeting frequencies, length and attendance in half. This seems severe, but meetings have become bloated in all these aspects. Start here and add back as need dictates.
- Demonstrate Meeting Etiquette. Require agendas, bring talking points, quietly enter late or leave early. Keep meetings focused and productive by following these simple tips.
- Prioritize Clarity Over Convenience. Remember that communicating the message is Job #1. Email is good for directives or information dissemination. Calls/meetings are good for collaborative or creative communications. Text/chat is good for short answers or information snippets. Always ask which method will be most effective for a particular message.
- Leverage Flex Time. Acknowledge the global playing field. Time zone considerations are a fact of life in the global economy. Stay cognizant of “when” things are scheduled to reasonably accommodate everyone’s time zone.
- Employ Hard Stops & Use Elevator Pitches. Let others know up front when the next appointment will impinge on the current one. Make shortened appointments more effective by communicating in elevator pitch format: Conclusion + Bullet Points + Wait for Request for More Information.
- Direct Your FYIs. Point out the relevant information in emails forwarded to others. Don’t make them hunt for the reason it was forwarded!
Making the Most of the Modern Day
Employ any one of these suggestions to make your time with others more productive.