| One of the challenges facing you in today's | | | | calls? |
| workplace is the constant stream of distractions that | | | | Phone calls are one of the major time wasters in the |
| happen on an on-going basis every single day. At the | | | | workplace. Any real work issues are normally |
| end of the work day, you often wonder why you | | | | expressed in emails. So telephone calls often times |
| have not completed that task or written that | | | | are just a PR function or chitchat over small things. |
| document which needs to be ready by first thing the | | | | Very rarely are they as urgent as theyseem. You |
| next day. | | | | can suggest to the management to install caller-ID |
| You get frustrated and you blame the entire system | | | | where you can view the telephone numbers of |
| for not making it work for you. Know this: Everything | | | | incoming calls. Make a case that this is a sure-fire way |
| starts with yourself and how you manage the many | | | | for increased productivity, and for crisis management. |
| diversions that stand in your way of completing your | | | | Where you do not anticipate problems or urgency, |
| work and achieving higher productivity in the | | | | most phone calls can wait while you finish up your |
| workplace. | | | | work. Use voice mail if you have it. |
| Here are some of the ways that you can use to | | | | What is the best way to say "No" to lunch invitations |
| combat the time wasters in your work life: | | | | without offending the other party? |
| What do you when you have sales people who | | | | You could pack your own lunch, so that nobody can |
| "happen to be in the neighborhood" and would like to | | | | persuade you to go out and lunchwith them. On busy |
| see you for a while? | | | | days, cancel your social lunch appointments if you |
| "For a while" is usually about 15 to 30 minutes. Often | | | | have alreadymade a prior arrangement and make a |
| times, uninvited appointments are not a life-and-death | | | | sincere apology. Do not let your socialcommitments |
| situation, something that you can swiftly respond | | | | eat into your working hours. This creates |
| with, "I have just five minutes to see you, if you | | | | unnecessary stress, and youend up going home late |
| don't mind". That five minutes is an investment | | | | or worse still - bringing the work home. |
| towards relationship building with your suppliers but it | | | | How can you steal time to finish work and still get to |
| should not take more time than necessary. You are | | | | go home early? |
| not obliged to see that person but it would be | | | | You come in an hour earlier. This is when no one is in |
| impolite to turn them down as it would create | | | | the office yet, when the phone is not ringing, when |
| unhealthy image of yourself and the company. | | | | your mind is still fresh and alert. You will not get |
| What do you do to indicate to your co-worker that | | | | distracted, you get to use the hours productively and |
| you are not to be disturbed? | | | | you get more done given your high energy and |
| Other than put a "funny" poster that conveys the | | | | mental level in the morning. Leverage on it. |
| message "Get Lost", you could be polite about it and | | | | As you think about how to manage the time |
| say you have life-threatening deadline to meet. Or | | | | wasters, consider the pitfalls for every action that |
| you could loudly declare that you are very stressed | | | | you take. It is important that you find an approach |
| right now and about to explode with thework that is | | | | that is not detrimental to your relationship with |
| due any minutes. Be firm. Do not allow others to rob | | | | people or affecting the image of the company or |
| you of your time. | | | | division that you work for. |
| What can you do to manage the incessant phone | | | | |