Tip of the month, Inside Track, March 2010
Refuse to waste time
Unproductive meetings back to back and a blizzard of emails keep many of us from the things we want to spend our time on. Here are two tough tips to get you out from under:
- Refuse to read copy emails. Set up your email to respond to copy email senders automatically telling them that a) you may not have time to read the email today and it will be deleted overnight and b) if they need you to do something, which might include reading and commenting on a document, they should email you directly.
- Refuse to go to poorly planned meetings. If a meeting request gives you a sinking feeling email back a Tentative Acceptance (if in Outlook) asking to be informed of the purpose and objectives of the meeting, who is responsible for convening the meeting and why you are needed. If you don’t get these – decline the invitation. A constructive explanation of why you were not at the meeting and your approach might catch on and then everyone will have more time for the things that matter.
