Tag Archive for: meetings

In the Name of Productivity, Be Clear

/0 Comments/in /by

___

BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

___

I’ve realized over the years that we all have our own definitions of common terms like “EOD” and “ASAP.” And that can cause miscommunication and serious productivity hiccups! 

I was a TV producer for many years, so I have a specific definition of ASAP — to me it means “in the next few minutes.” Because when you’re on a deadline things move fast and you have to move quickly too. 

But… that’s not everyone’s definition of ASAP. For some people it means by the end of the morning, or by the end of the week, or just whenever they can get to it. If your job relies on communicating with lots of people from different industries, their definition (and yours!) will probably vary a lot. 

Productivity can be really hampered when we’re working with different assumptions. People can easily get frustrated when you’re not aligned on a timeline. Things go much more smoothly when there’s clarity in communication.

Here are some common productivity communication challenges and how to combat them:

1) ASAP

This is a big one — we all say it all the time, so it’s a hard habit to break. But it’s worth the effort. Instead of saying ASAP, it’s better to just share a specific day or time, even if it’s a range. And if someone says they’ll “get it done ASAP” but you don’t know when they mean, just ask politely if they can give more details about their timeline.

2) EOD

“End of day” seems like it would be straightforward enough. It can cause confusion when you don’t know someone’s work day! I once worked with someone whose workday ended at midnight and I didn’t realize it, so at 5 o’clock I was always left wondering what was going on. But she was thinking of her EOD, not mine! Since you never know when someone’s workday starts or ends, giving specific times is better.

3) Time zone

It’s super common now to work with people across different time zones. So it’s extra important to give time zone information when you’re scheduling meetings or deadlines. If you regularly work with someone in another time zone, it’s great if you can get in the habit of giving both your time zone and theirs (11am PST/2pm EST, for instance) when you’re communicating. That way there’s less room for error. I’ve been using an app to help with this – it’s called SavvyTime and you put in the time zones you need to know and it shows you all the times on screen. Very convenient! 

These all seem like small changes but they really add up! You might be surprised how much these communication pitfalls are impacting your productivity. 

___

BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

___

Video is a Productivity Game Changer

/0 Comments/in , /by

So many things have changed in the last few months.

When it comes to working from home, one of the biggest changes is video  — video meetings, video conferences, video check-ins. 

All this video means you need to adjust your productivity habits. Being productive and efficient over video is different from working with people face-to-face. 

Read more

The Art of the 7 Minute Meeting

/0 Comments/in , , , /by
Me and Terri Trespicio with Gary Vaynerchuk at our friend Farnoosh Torabi's launch party for her new CNBC show Follow the Leader. She interviews Gary in it.

Me and Terri Trespicio with Gary Vaynerchuk at our friend Farnoosh Torabi’s launch party for her new CNBC show Follow the Leader. She interviews Gary in it.

I talk a lot about the biggest time wasters in the workplace.

You know them well.

There’s checking Facebook or your email, trolling the internet for nearly anything, chatting with your co-worker, a “quick” game of Candy Crush… the list goes on and on.

But what’s the ultimate time waster?

Meetings!

Think about it.  How many time have you sat in a meeting that was supposed to finish an hour ago, but one person keeps asking questions that aren’t really relevant? (There’s always one!)

What’s more?  The majority of meetings end up going nowhere. Too much talk and nothing ever gets done.

That’s a huge pet peeve of mine — I’m all about the execution.  Give me the checklist to get things done! Read more

Four Boundaries Worth Setting Right Now

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , /by

private-20115_1280When it comes to list making and my general time management and organization I like rules.

I like things to be clear cut– black and white.

Rules save me time, because I’m not sitting there wondering whether to take the call, go to the meeting or have another glass of wine.  

I have a rule in place so it’s either happening or it isn’t.

I recently did an event for my book Listful Thinking with the National Association of Professional Organizers in New York City and a common theme struck a cord.  Boundaries.

I’m often asked about what I call my “rules” and I find that the idea tends to resonate with a lot of people, especially working mothers. Probably because these rules allow me to set these boundaries in both my personal and professional life.

It’s something a lot of people have trouble with. Read more

Smart Ways to Cut Back on Decision Making

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , /by

businessI’m sure most of you have your go-to outfits for when you have an important presentation to give or a special dinner to attend.  But what about some other go-to must haves that will make your life easier and more efficient?

Go-to Meeting Spots

I was reading an article in Fast Company magazine where they had a productivity tip from Christina Wallace, the founding director of the American Museum of Natural History’s Bridge Up: STEM Initiative. She encourage readers to have a go-to list of meeting spots in the neighborhoods they frequent most. Read more