Is it time to file for bankruptcy? I’m talking about a special kind of bankruptcy that has helped my clients with one issue: Email. Do you cringe at the thought of your own inbox? Thousands of requests for your attention can pile higher than the Empire State Building. Maybe the phrase “buried alive” even comes … Continue reading “How filing bankruptcy helps you deal with email overload”
Regular one-to-one meetings can reduce interruptions and improve focus
Are “quick questions” interrupting your focus? Close your door, mute your phone, and try this instead… 1. Open your calendar. 2. Schedule recurring meetings with individual team members. 3. Train your team to save “quick questions” until these one-to-one meetings. 4. Clarify that true emergencies are acceptable interruptions, while everything else can wait. That’s the … Continue reading “Regular one-to-one meetings can reduce interruptions and improve focus”
Why asking a productive question is important
What makes a question productive? The best indicator is in the very first word. A productive question usually starts with one of the following words: • How • What • When • Why • Who It’s the difference between a command—which leaves little wiggle room for discussion—and an open invitation to communicate. Here’s an example: … Continue reading “Why asking a productive question is important”
Make work meaningful and fulfilling to you
Do you feel fulfilled at work? If you think fulfillment requires landing your dream job, think again. The secret is simple: make your work meaningful to you…no matter what that work is. How? By using these three basic elements—values, vision, and victory. • Your VALUES are what you believe in. Words like honesty, integrity, compassion … Continue reading “Make work meaningful and fulfilling to you”
How to know when a meeting should be an email instead
Could that long meeting have been a short email instead? More often than not, the answer is yes. The good news is there’s a way to figure it out before you waste valuable time. Let me explain. As a society, we have a love-hate relationship with meetings. Management loves them, everyone else…maybe not so much. … Continue reading “How to know when a meeting should be an email instead”