Time Management - Marc Mancini
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108<br />
<strong>Time</strong> <strong>Management</strong><br />
Here are a few tactics to consider:<br />
• Make a precise time appointment to call the person.<br />
• If someone reaches you via a second line or the call-waiting<br />
option, tell the person you’ll get right back, specify<br />
when (e.g., “in 10 minutes” or “by 5:30”)—and then hold<br />
yourself to it.<br />
• Find out the person’s schedule, write it down, and telephone<br />
accordingly. This works especially well for people<br />
you must contact often.<br />
• Ask the person the best time to call—a time when he or<br />
she is free but least likely to be busy.<br />
• If an assistant or receptionist says the person you want is<br />
on another call, ask if you can remain on hold. At least<br />
you know that the person is there.<br />
• If the person is the type who deflects calls via an<br />
assistant, telephone at lunchtime or after 5 p.m. There’s a<br />
good chance that the assistant won’t be there and the<br />
person you seek will pick up the phone.<br />
• Determine if the person has a direct, private line. Tell the<br />
person when you’ll definitely be available.<br />
• If you need to convey only a small bit of information,<br />
leave it with the assistant or on voice mail. Doing so will<br />
save you both plenty of time, since a live conversation<br />
will take much longer to convey the information than a<br />
bare-boned message.<br />
Conversely, if you have an assistant, bring her or him up-todate<br />
about what people may want to discuss with you. That<br />
way, the assistant may be able to conduct the communication<br />
for you.<br />
The Ultimate Setbacks<br />
These strategies will help you manage time, avert problems,<br />
and control damages. Such tactics take on more importance<br />
when dealing with vital documents.