Your Time and Social Media
“Social media” is defined by Wikipedia as “media for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques.” In laymen’s terms, social media helps people connect online. In popular usage, the term “social media” typically refers to social networking and sharing sites, including the following:
• Blogs
• Forums
• Image/Photo-Sharing Sites
• Video-Sharing Sites
• Twitter
• MySpace
• Facebook
• Linkedin
It has become the battle cry of the new Internet revolution that businesses MUST be involved in social media to succeed online. This includes realtors and their business. But with new social media outlets emerging and others going in and out of favor at an ever increasing pace, it can be hard to keep up. And many realtors find it a real challenge to know where to invest their time and how to leverage social media effectively. Many frazzled real estate business owners are asking themselves and others the following questions:
• What social media outlets are best for my niche?
• How much time do I need to spend online to be successful?
• I’m so busy working IN my business – how am I going to Tweet, blog, and spend hours on LinkedIn too?
• Do people really care whether or not I’m on Facebook?
Sure, managing your social media efforts can seem frustrating and overwhelming at first glance. But fortunately, you don’t have to invest hours and hours posting tweets about what you ate for breakfast, or uploading videos of your cat to YouTube. In fact, you better skip those things.
Instead, approach social media with a plan, and focus on providing and sharing useful information while also interacting with your fans, friends, and followers. If you do that, social media can be an effective and even fun part of your marketing mix.
In fact, if you approach social media marketing with the right goals, tools, and strategies, you won’t have to spend more than 30 to 60 minutes a day in order to reap great benefits.
Author Bio: VA Certified and passionate about helping entrepreneurs succeed. As President and Owner of VA Contact, Lori Isachsen works directly with real estate professionals for over 5 years coupled with 25 years business experience in management, administration, accounting and computers in both the public and non-profit sectors. My clients enjoy the advantage and benefits of gaining their time to focus where they want to. Lori is skilled and highly proficient in organization, attention to detail, maintaining deadlines, establishing systems and strategic planning. Our goal is to listen to you and what you need in your business through communication and client satisfaction.
Copyright © 2011 Would you like to republish this article? You are free to do so as long as you include a link back to the full post, attributing the author, Lori Isachsen.
Check Up Time!
In many areas of our lives we get a check up, such as going to the dentist or doctor, but do we give our business that same opportunity? No matter how large or small your business is, a yearly check up is an invaluable tool for getting your business into tip-top shape and positioned to grow. So what areas should you review in your business’s annual check-up?
Here are 7 steps to get you started:
- How do your year-to-date sales compare to the last couple of years? Don’t be satisfied if you managed to match them because if sales stayed the same then you’ve achieved zero growth. This flat growth line is a warning sign for more trouble down the road.
- What percentage of your business is from repeat clients? This is important to know because if it’s too low, then it needs to be improved. The estimated cost of getting a new client versus retaining an existing one can be as much as five to one in terms of dollars spent. Keeping clients is more cost-effective than constantly seeking new ones.
- How is your business doing compared to your competition? Every business, no matter what the size, has competition. Is their business growing or downsizing? Is their service better than yours? If so, what can you tell potential clients about the difference in your services? Loyal customers like to see you changing and progressing with the times. If you’re stuck for an idea, ask your clients what they need.
- Do you consider marketing and advertising expenses as investments? How you look at the money spent in these areas affects your willingness to spend money at all. Marketing is really investing in you, your vision, and your company. The old adage that you must spend money to make money is true, but you must spend it wisely. Spend it on ads that are pulling responses and if they’re not maybe you need to change your advertising tactics.
- Do you know what PR is and how to use it to positively position your business in the media? I’ll bet that your competition does. Nearly every mention of Affiliate Experts in the newspapers, magazines, and on the internet is a direct result of publicity efforts. Being quoted or featured in an article speaks volumes to your clients and readers who are your potential prospects.
- Do you have a website? If you don’t, you should consider having a presence on the internet. This is a great way to advertise your listings and your services. If you already have a website, make sure you spend time maintaining it and updating it regularly.
- How do you treat your clients? Just as you appreciate when your doctor takes time to talk to you, your clients will appreciate you if you take an interest in their needs. If your clients don’t feel special when coming to you for services, why should they remain loyal to you? Create a mailing list of your existing clients. Send occasional post cards or greeting cards for special events or just to keep in touch.
At any time of the year, it’s easy to let attention slip away from doing a regular check-up on the health of our business. When you take the time to do a yearly check up, you not only organize and reassess where your business is going, but you also stay motivated. Let these yearly check ups be your secret weapon to help your business grow and increase your profits.
Seven Questions to Ask Yourself
There are no stupid questions. The only stupid question is the one that isn’t asked. Whether you’re just starting out or trying to grow your business to even greater heights, I’m sure you have many questions about your next steps. Usually, the questions that come into your mind are more concrete in nature: Who is my audience? Where should I open my business? How should I advertise?
Good questions, but there are others that you may not think to ask – of yourself and about yourself. These questions revolve around the person you need to be in order to achieve the success you want. These questions are so important in your journey of success. This week I invite you to get personal. Look within yourself by considering these 7 questions.
Think about them before answering them, and be sure to answer them honestly. These are the same personal questions I continue to ask myself. These are the questions that help me to propel my business higher and higher every year. I promise you, spending a little focused time here, will reap you great rewards …
Q1. Are you setting your goals according to what you truly want or what you think you should get? If your perspective is based on what you think you can do or have to do, you’re limiting your business potential. Set your goals based on what you truly want to achieve.
Q2. Do you have a burning desire? When you set out to do something you’ve never done, you are bound to encounter obstacles and hurdles. A burning desire will motivate you to overcome them rather than quitting because the going gets tough.
Q3. Where do you want to be? Design your business on your terms. The lifestyle you want to live, how much vacation you want to take, how many hours you want to work are totally up to you. Map these things out in advance so you can determine how to get there.
Q4. Are you setting the right goals? Setting goals that excite and challenge you will keep you from becoming lazy or complacent. Be careful not to set goals that are so overwhelming that they paralyze you with fear. Keep a balance.
Q5. What do you need to let go of? When you move from one level to another, in life and in business, you have to leave some things behind. It could be a habit, a former acquaintance or a work pattern, but the more old things you carry with you, the harder it is to climb. Let go of the things that hold you back.
Q6. Who do you need to be in order to do this? How you act and react is just as, perhaps even more important, than what you do. Take notice of your habits and your surroundings. Ask yourself if the person you need to be to achieve your goals would live and act this way.
Q7. What is the one critical skill you need? Learning to sell is the most critical skill in any business. The most important investment you can make in yourself is learning to sell one-to-one. Make the conscious commitment to making yourself the best salesperson your business could have.
Asking yourself these personal questions and revealing your personal, honest answers will give you insight on what you need to learn and do to achieve your goals.
Never stop asking yourself questions. Every answer will take you further and further on the road to your success.
Article Source : Seven Questions to Ask Yourself : ArticleBase
Bernadette Doyle -
About the Author:
Bernadette Doyle is a marketing specialist who helps entrepreneurs become client magnets and attract a steady stream of their ideal clients. She publishes a free, weekly newsletter for trainers, speakers, coaches, consultants, complementary therapists and solo professionals. If you’d like to receive invaluable tips and advice on how to attract clients with ease, register at http://www.clientmagnets.com
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10 Ways to Effective Interpersonal Communication Skills
The 21st century seems one poised to be the communication century, where the old ways fall by the way side, as true communication goes further and further toward building bridges between people, and greases the skids in the business world between coworkers, clients and managers in ways that would seem impossible even a generation ago. Don’t be left behind. Here are 10 effective ways to build your interpersonal communication skills and stay ahead of the game.
#1 – CONDUCT THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATION
Shying away from necessary conflict for the sake of avoiding confrontation is a big hindrance to forging meaningful communication. Through practice you will learn the best ways to conduct the difficult conversations that need to be done.
#2 – BREVITY IS BETTER
A good and proper economy of phrasing goes a long way toward earning good will from those you wish to communicate with. Get to the points you wish to make quickly, do not waste others’ time and mental energy on pointless “filler” conversation, and people will appreciate you.
#3 – MAKE YOUR FEEDBACK COUNT
Often, the most important communication skill is learning to make the most of the small windows offered for you to give constructive feedback on something. Make the most of these opportunities.
#4 – RECEIVE FEEDBACK GRACEFULLY
Likewise, a crucial skill to effective interpersonal communication is learning how to take criticism and feedback in stride, and to never take it personally. Feedback is a great way to learn what you need to focus on to perform better. Cherish the opportunity.
#5 – MIND YOUR HYGIENE
One of the first things people notice about you is your hygiene habits. Bathe regularly, keep a neat and tidy appearance, and mind all aspects of your personal grooming habits. It makes no sense to allow something so easy to control to derail your attempts at communication.
#6 – DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Also, dress properly for every occasion. There is no excuse to ever be “under dressed” as it will only allow other the excuse to not take you seriously.
#7 – LEARN TO SELF-ASSESS
An honest self-critique can be the most useful ability in building interpersonal communication skills that you have at your disposal. Learn how to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
#8 – LISTEN WITH YOUR EYES
Look for the numerous non-verbal cues that will clue you in to what the other person is trying to convey to you in conversation. Pick up on the eye contact, the posture and the body language to hear the hidden conversation at play in every interaction.
#9 – DO YOUR PREP WORK
Always be prepared for any conversation, but never fear not having a particular fact handy. It is much better to admit ignorance than to make something up.
#10 – SILENCE CAN SOMETIMES BE GOLDEN
Learning when not to speak in a conversation can be a incredibly useful skill that allows the other person room to say what they need to. Challenge yourself to be silent the next time you feel urged to argue and you’ll instantly build more effective communication skills.
Article Source : 10 Ways to Effective Interpersonal Communication Skills : ArticleBase
Joshua Uebergang -
About the Author:
Read more articles for free to help your interpersonal communication skills and sign-up to my free effective communication skills eNewsletter at towerofpower.com.au/free/
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Manage Your Energy For Better Results
Learning how to manage your energy goes along with the post I wrote a few days ago explaining the importance of knowing yourself and what works for you. Another part of that strategy is also knowing and managing your energy cycle, levels and preferences. Then the next step is figuring out how to use that knowledge to your advantage to help you work smarter, be more effective and have more free time.
Personal energy considerations:
- Are you a morning person or a night owl?
- Do you get a lunch time or mid-afternoon energy slump?
- What is your optimal length of focus or work period? For some people it’s 30 minutes spurts with short breaks in between, for others it’s 60 or 90 minutes and for a rare few it’s 3 or 4 hours.
- How often do you need to eat to maintain your concentration and energy? For health purposes you should eat every 3-4 hours, but perhaps a snack every 2 works better for you.
- Does the type of food you eat matter? Perhaps pasta isn’t a good lunch if it makes you want to take a nap!
You may not know the answers to these questions and you are not alone. The best method to use to get a better “map” if you will of your energy cycle is to track your workday activities with energy notes for a week. You should already have some type of calendar that you use for work and/or home. Simply make brief notes as you go through your week about the type of task you are doing and how you are feeling each hour. When you look back at the end of the week, you will see a pattern that you can use to help you schedule tasks, meetings, breaks and other activities during the times that are more appropriate for you.
For example, I have discovered that I am a morning person and that my brain gets fuzzy late at night. However, when I first wake up it takes me a while to calm my mind and focus; it’s usually like a whirling vortex of ideas and task. This is not a good time for me to write a blog post or do project work. It is a great time for me to scan social media, read RSS feeds, answer quick emails (things that only need a few minutes focus) or alternatively to exercise which helps to calm my mind. My energy and focus “curve” slowly climbs throughout the morning and peaks late morning. So 10AM-12PM is great project/writing time. This is why I frequently get caught up in a project and do not want to stop to eat lunch.
I will keep working until 1 or 2 some days and then I am starving. So, the lesson for me here is not only when to schedule high focus activities, but also to make sure I take a mid-morning break and have a good snack in case lunch is later. I am almost useless many days late afternoon, so I best get everything done before 3PM or else it has to wait until mid-evening. I do get another spurt of energy between 6-8PM, which I like to use for those household chores, being active with the kids or occasionally writing or other business tasks that I may not have time for during the traditional work day (i.e. finances, marketing, technology issues.) The other things I discovered are that I work better in 90 minute blocks of time (30 minutes is too disruptive for me) and that I need to eat every 2 – 3 hours.
Article Source : Manage Your Energy For Better Results : ArticleBase
Royale Scuderi -
About the Author:
Royale Scuderi is a personal productivity expert and author. She blogs about productivity tips, tools and strategies at http://www.personalproductivity101.com. Her mission is to Help you to work smarter and live better! You too can have business success and life satisfaction through increased efficiency, organization, motivation and awareness.
Visit http://www.personalproductivity101.com to sign up to receive free productivity tips via email.
Copyright © 2010 Royale Scuderi All Rights Reserved
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5 Tips to Writing an Engaging Headline
The success of marketing copy such as brochures, ads, and press releases depends on the headline—or in the case of an email, the subject line. It needs to grab the reader and compel him or her to take action by reading the brochure or opening the email.
It’s your first hurdle, and it’s a big one.
The headline needs to speak to a pain the reader has or something the reader wants—now. Arousing curiosity is a good tactic. Appealing to strong emotions grabs the attention of the reader and hits him or her on a basic, gut level.
Following are a few ideas to show you how to write your next powerful headline.
Benefits, benefits, benefits.
Create a headline from your main benefit. What will your product do for customers? Get to the point, and show them what they get.
Try a brain dump.
Don’t worry about a great headline yet—get your thoughts down. Add to the benefits. Remember the pain you’re trying to ease. Think about the 5Ws and an H: who, what, where, when, why, and how. Can you use any of those words in your headline? Write five or ten options out, and play with them.
Don’t be too clever.
A little cuteness makes people laugh and helps them remember your product, but too much sounds insincere. People can spot phonies a mile away. Remember, while they don’t care about you, they need to feel they can trust you before they buy.
No false promises.
Misleading promises or incorrect information is always a no-no. You don’t want to appear untrustworthy. One person who doesn’t trust you can suddenly become 10, 20, or more.
Keep it short and sweet.
If your headline is too long, try taking out words or groups of words, and see if it still flows. You probably won’t get a perfect wording on your first try. Take out words like that, really, and just. Use short words and action verbs wherever you can. Make the customer feel as if you are addressing him directly. Speak in the second person—you, not we.
Finally, when you think you have a good headline, let it sit for at least 8 hours. When you go back to it, you’ll see it with fresh eyes. You’ll be amazed at what will come to mind, and you’ll know when it’s ready to go. If you take the time, you’ll surprise yourself at how well you do.
Discover simple marketing strategies to attract and convert prospects. My bimonthly ezine, Sumer’s Secrets is packed with tips on how to improve your web copy, promote your website, and market your brand. Sign up and receive a FREE report on creating web copy that will increase sales and site traffic.
Article Source : 5 Tips to Writing an Engaging Headline : ArticleBase
Michelle Salater -
About the Author:
Michelle Salater is an award-winning writer and president of Sumèr, LLC, a company which specializes in web copy writing, SEO copywriting, and the promotion and marketing of websites after they launch. As an avid business blogger, Michelle has grown her marketing blog, Copy Doodle, to be a powerful lead generation and client education tool, and frequently guest blogs and lectures on blogging. In 2009, Michelle won the Charleston Business Journal’s Forty under 40 award for her business and community leadership.
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As a realtor having a real estate buisness means doing large volumes of advertising and marketing. One of my strategies as a real estate assist is having handy lists. Compiling a list of headlines for listings, self promotions and your email marketing will reduce the time you spend when your actually need to sit down and create them. When you get an idea for a good headline, type it on an easy to access word document or just dictate them to yourself on your phone to write down on a sheet of paper that is specifically for this. Believe me, I use my handy list every day.
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The Symbolic Value of the Brand
The symbolic representation is usually composed of a name and images or concepts that distinguish it. When it comes to logo, usually we refer to the graphical representation and expertise in graphic design, where the brand can be represented by a combination of symbol and / or logo.
However, the concept of branding is far more comprehensive than its mere graphic representation. The introduction of his name and graphic representation – announced the “intention” of a product / service that translates your attributes and differentiates in the market. This is what makes it special and unique from its competitors.
The role of marketing is to constantly search for an association with the brand “personality” or a “mental image”. Thus, its purpose is to “tag” the image in the mind of the consumer, that is, make a positive association between the image and product quality.
The brand is essentially a promise from the company to provide a specific set of attributes, benefits and uniform services to buyers. Bailing us back to Kotler, quality assurance comes with the best brands, but a brand is a symbol more complex and may bring up to six levels of meaning:
1) Attributes: the brand has the power to bring to mind certain attributes.
2) Benefits: These benefits are translated into functional and emotional.
3) Values: the brand also conveys the company’s values.
4) Culture: the brand has the power to represent a certain culture.
5) Personality: The brand can project a certain personality.
6) User: The brand suggests the kind of consumer who can use a product.
Creation of Value for the Consumer
The brand is a contract. The brand reduces the risk that the consumer goes to purchase the product. Ensures a level of performance, irrespective of its distribution.
The mark identifies. In a bid to products which are often indistinguishable brand recognition facilitates and promotes loyalty. As an example alcoholic drinks, televisions, mobile phones and so on.
The brand apart. She appreciates the one who uses or consumes. It transmits its identity to people. For purchases of social status is essential added value brought by the mark.
Creating Value for the Enterprise
The brand has commercial value. The brand is a negotiable asset, either by selling the brand, either by rental or licensing of the brand. A strong brand allows higher prices (price premium or additional cost incurred by the mark). Between a Citizen and a Cartier, the difference in price for equal quality, can be several hundred dollars.
The brand has value institutional or corporate. The brand can develop a powerful sense of belonging among employees of a company. A strong brand has a strong influence on financial reporting. This explains, among other things, that some groups change their name to be listed on stock exchanges under the name of his best-known brand.
Article Source : The symbolic value of the Brand : ArticleBase
logoemarca -
About the Author:
Professional creation of logomarca, logotipo, brand and identity
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Real estate professionals, or any service professional for that matter, should take the time to create a brand that represents their service and brings value to the consumer. Your brand is something you will want to use in all your marketing and promoting. Researching other brands will help you to create and develop your own brand. Make it yours plus make it a fair representation of your business. Don’t rush into it!
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Outdoor Digital Signage – Sunlight, Weather, Temperature and Content
With so many displays now used in indoor environments for digital signage many advertisers and retailers are opting to take their screens outdoors were there is less competition and the audience numbers are greater.But outdoor digital signage is whole new ball game, compared to using indoor screens, with numerous challenges and obstacles that have to be overcome for any outdoor screen to be able to function efficiently without failing.
Sunlight
Often overlooked but one of the most significant challenges for any outdoor digital signage or outside display is the effect of the sun. The sun has several effects on an outdoor display.
Firstly, the brightness of the sun can wash out a display as the LCD (or plasma) backlight has to contend with the brightness; often high brightness displays are used to counteract this problem but they require more energy and generate more heat – which has also to be countered to prevent overheating.
Secondly, direct sunlight can cause sun glare if the sun is directly on the screen. This can be countered with an anti-glare screen although this can reduce the brightness of the display. Another option is to position the screen away from the sun’s rays or even place a canopy or shroud over the display.
And thirdly, direct sunlight can also damage a screen if the sun’s rays are continually bombarding it, hot spots can develop and cause permanent damage to the screen.
Weather and Temperature Protection
Rainfall is perhaps the most common element outdoor digital signage has to cope with but there are other weather systems that need to be countered too: snow, sleet and even airborne dust need to be kept away from the screen but also the varying temperatures that an outdoor display has to work in needs to be factored in.
Commonly, LCD enclosures that house cooling and heating elements are used in outdoor locations as they create the optimum environment for display screens to operate in. Not only are they waterproof and able to keep all the other elements away from the screen but they can keep a constant temperature, even when ambient temperatures plummet below zero or rise to stifling levels. LCD enclosures also provide a steel barrier against vandalism and impacts – also important in outdoor locations.
Content
Another consideration for those thinking of embarking on outdoor digital signage is that the content that works on an indoor display may not necessarily transport to an outdoor location. What may appear fine in an indoor location may appear washed out or confused on an outdoor screen. Colours, fonts and transitions work differently in outdoor locations as they do under false lighting and the screen view time can often be shorter too as people tend to walk about quicker outside so ensuring the important information is always visible is important for any outdoor campaign.
Article Source : Outdoor Digital Signage – Sunlight, Weather, Temperature and Content : ArticleBase
Richard n Williams -
About the Author:
Richard N Williams is a technical author and a specialist in the digital signage industry helping to develop outdoor digital signage and protection for plasmas. Please visit us for more information about LCD Enclosures or other digital signage solutions.
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How Important Are Reader Relationships?
What are some effective ways that you can use to build trust with others? You must first learn about them and get to know them. Of course, it is much easier to do this in person, but with a little effort, this can also be accomplished on the web. But, why would we go to all of that trouble?
Building quality relationships with your readers is a very important part of your business. The main goal of our website is to make a profit. To achieve this you will need to direct traffic to your site. But, you will need more than just random visitors.
Let’s take a look at this scenario. You have launched a fantastic new product. You create a massive advertising campaign to market your product. This results in an increase in your unique visitors by 100% (quite possible) and a huge jump in sales, just in the first few months of the launch.
Please realize that this staggering bump in one time sales is short lived. Let’s say that you made record profits in each of those first few months. It still would not carry your business through the remainder of the year when you experience decreased traffic due to the fact that you had no returning customers. That is no way to operate and grow a successful thriving business.
A better way would be to establish a flow of repeat customers each month. You accomplish that by building relationships with every one of them. You don’t have to be on a first name basis with them, but you need to pay attention to them and give them a reason to return.
Your readers are more than just random visitors coming to read your latest article, they are searching for information, help or something else. They may be interested in what you have to offer, but if they don’t feel appreciated, they probably won’t hang around.
Let’s look at a few reasons why reader relationships are so important to your business:
Everybody has friends ~ Every visitor to your website has a sphere of influence with a certain group of people. If you can build a relationship with them, you can tap into their sphere, connect with new people and multiply your efforts.
Profitability ~ If you can establish trust with your visitor, you are more likely to be able to convert them into a customer. A good relationship can also keep them coming back as a repeat customer.
Making connections ~ You never know who you will meet when establishing relationships with your customers. You may connect with another online business owner who can provide organic back-links to your website. You may be asked to write a guest post for a fellow blogger. People who frequently add social bookmarks to your website content can help to boost you to expert status.
Building relationships with your readers involves getting to know them, finding out about them, learning what they want, and interacting with them. Give them a reason to trust you and let them know that you appreciate the fact that they visited your site. Like most things, it’s easy to do and also easy not to do. So take action and start connecting.
Article Source : How Important Are Reader Relationships? : ArticleBase
Greg Swan -
About the Author:
Blogger, affiliate marketer and internet entrepreneur. Visit my blogs for more great articles and resources at Online Business Articles and Resources and Affiliate Profit Resources
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Time Bandits And Productivity Saboteurs – Identifying And Managing Them
Today’s working environments are riddled with interruptions and distractions. Just when we get focused on one task, a new e-mail arrives, the phone rings, or someone stops by and off we go on a new tangent. Later, when we return to the original task, we need to get back up to speed before we can make any progress. The net result is lost time and greater anxiety.
Unfortunately, interruptions or distractions are a part of the workplace. Consequently, we must understand the nature of each to better manage them.
Dissecting Time Bandits
Productivity saboteurs originate from one of three sources – You, Them, and It. Let’s examine the role of each source in diminishing our productivity.
You. The most insidious time bandit is yourself. We each allow, even create, distractions that reduce our productivity and cause our workloads to pile up even higher. A classic example of this is flitting from task to task or place to place during the day. The act of just “touching” your work is a distraction you create rather than actually doing anything substantive on any one task. For example,does this sound familiar? You’ve got to get a task completed, but you find yourself incessantly checking your e-mail Inbox, your Twitter account or your Facebook updates. Nothing is getting done, but there’s a whole bunch of activity going on! The most productive way to manage this type of self-inflicted distraction is to sit quietly in front of the work you need to do. Yes, just sit there. Quietly …maybe with a blank screen or pen and paper in front of you. Let your mind settle down and allow yourself to think just about what it is you need to get done. Resist the urge to dart off to some other perceived exigency. As your brain settles down and begins to focus on the task at hand, you’ll discover the path to completion for this project.
Them. Everyone in your workplace is a potential time bandit. Without warning, these folks can pounce on you, delivering up huge interruptions. Some of these interruptions are substantive – they actually require your assistance. However, many of them are unnecessary and do nothing but cause you to veer away from your well-intended and productive efforts. Moreover, keeping an “open door” and managing by “walking around” are highly lauded management practices that must be considered when seeking to manage unnecessary interruptions for fear of communicating an unwanted message – leave me alone! The best tact is to divide your time physically between periods when interruptions are “acceptable” and periods when they’re not. Thus, during “acceptable” periods, make yourself available via the open door, etc. When the interruption occurs, quickly determine its priority and manage accordingly – deal with it right now, schedule time with the interrupter (in the future) to deal with the issue, or stand up (to indicate closure) and accept any physical manifestation of the interruption and place it in the Inbox for future consideration. Conversely, during “unacceptable” periods, make yourself unavailable via a closed door (with or without a note on the door asking not be disturbed) or simply by leaving – go to a place where you’re unlikely to be found such as a conference room or empty office.
It. The “it” to which I refer is most often technology. We are bombarded by various interruptions and easy-to-access distractions via modern technology. For example, take new message alerts! “You’ve got mail” became the banner of the Internet age. Today, busy workers deal with tens, if not hundreds, of e-mails every day, with a corresponding “Ping” and screen flash every time a new one arrives. What’s the point of knowing every time “You’ve got mail”!? If it’s so darn important, why aren’t you calling me or coming to see me? You get my point. The same goes with the onslaught of social media – updates to Twitter and Facebook and their progeny are bombarding us with largely unexamined and generally unimportant information. The best way to handle this particular productivity saboteur is to take command of the technology and drive it, instead of being driven by it. Specifically, turn off all new message/update alerts and visit each technology source as often as necessary to remain in control of the information being delivered via that channel. Thus, you can turn off your new e-mail alert and check it every 20 to 30 minutes to make sure you’re remaining responsive. With social media, check it on your breaks – they’re “social” by definition, so treat them as such!
Doing What You Can With What You Have
In short, interruptions and distractions can never be eliminated from our days. In fact, some matters are truly urgent and require an interruption. However, if you realize that these emergencies are in the great minority of events and construct mechanisms to efficiently attend to the rest of the productivity saboteurs that come at you during the day, you’ll find that your focus goes up and, along with it, your productivity and sense of accomplishment!
By: By: Paul H. Burton
Paul works with clients who believe individual performance drives organizational success. As the creator of the QuietSpacing productivity method, he is a frequent speaker and recognized expert on getting things done. Paul works with individuals, groups and organizations to create more productive working environments via high-content keynote addresses, interactive training seminars, and one-on-one coaching sessions. You can learn more about Paul’s work and subscribe to his complimentary newsletter – Six Minutes to Success – at www.quietspacing.com.
Article Source : Time Bandits And Productivity Saboteurs – Identifying And Managing Them : ArticleDashboard
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