The simplicity of pen and paper

There are any number of apps available that promise to organise your to-do list, capture notes, help you to be more productive, plan your day … While technology is great, it can tie us down or even make us less productive, as you spend time attempting to get the latest app to sync with the…

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The importance of planning ahead.

Why you need to plan ahead

You’re working on an important report or piece of research and then you discover that the one person critical to you being able to complete the work is away on holiday and won’t be back until after it’s due. It’s not their fault – it’s due to lack of planning ahead on your behalf. Other…

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Yes, No or Maybe

yes, no or maybe

When you say Yes – do you actually mean it? Quite often someone will say they’ll do something when actually they won’t. It’s not through malice, it’s usually because they haven’t thought ahead. When they say “I’ll call you later/this afternoon/tomorrow” – actually they already have plans for ‘later’ or they’re not going to be…

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Using multiple email addresses to manage your email

separate email accounts

These days it’s so easy to set up an email address that makes sense to have multiple email addresses for different reasons. Using multiple email addresses is also a good way to sort and organise you email. I’d definitely recommend using online email addresses and not limiting yourself to your internet provider.  That way if…

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Snowed under?

When you are snowed under with work

Do you find yourself snowed under by all you have to do? Whether it’s the amount of email that arrives in your Inbox every day or the paperwork you have to deal with or the shear amount of work that you have to get through that leaves you working late in the office. Write it…

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Step Away From The Smartphone

Why you should step away from the smartphone

Yes, they’re a great tool but they can end up controlling our lives. I was reading a series of tweets last week about people who are woken from their slumber by their Blackberry, which then downloads emails and social media and before they’ve even got up, they’re immediately online and working. It’s not unusual –…

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Who, What, Where, When, Why and How

questions to consider when delegating tasks

I keep six honest serving-men They taught me all I knew;  Their names are What and Why and When  And How and Where and Who. (From The Elephants Child by Rudyard Kipling) As well as being the Five W’s (and one H) of journalism these are also useful questions to consider when delegating tasks or…

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Your Email Out Of Office Message

Out of Office messages in your email

When I send out emails, especially my monthly newsletter, I regularly get several ‘Out of Office’ messages back. It’s interesting to see the different type of messages that people use – from the very general and uninformative – “I’m out of the Office” to specific dates and contact information. Out of office messages are good…

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Staff To Be Banned From Sending Email

Employees sending emails

And I bet they see an increase in productivity. Thierry Breton, CEO of Atos is calling for a zero email policy, replacing it with instant messaging. Email is one of the scourges of the modern technological age. Yes, it means that communication can be fast and efficient and allows us to communicate across time zones…

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Always On. The consequences of hyper-connectivity.

technology and digital habits

I just happened to catch Dominic Arkwright’s Off The Page on BBC Radio 4 last night and the topic was – Always On. The consequences of hyper-connectivity.  Involved with the discussion were Jemima Kiss of the Guardian, William Powers – author of Hamlet’s Blackberry and Harry Eyres columnist of the FT’s Slow Lane. In these days…

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