Does “little stuff” like rounding up hockey gear, or booking doctor’s appointments end up taking your whole day? Here’s my strategy for how to manage supporting tasks so they’ll take up less of your precious time.
Our emails are designed to prompt action. The easier we make this action for our recipient, the more likely we are to prompt the results we want. But with email subjects spanning anything from corporate mergers to little league schedules, it’s hard to imagine one approach to fit this wide range of communications, yet there is. Try my 4C approach to send clear and concise emails that are easy to answer.
Our brains detest the vast amount of uncertainty we’ve been navigating over this past year. It's in our nature to crave certainty and predictability. We like to know what is coming around the corner. We are wired to constantly scan for new information in an effort to strengthen our internal prediction algorithms. And the internet is primed to provide us with a cognitive sugar rush. As a result, we find ourselves endlessly scrolling. This leaves us stuck in an endless loop of seeking more information to help compensate for this feeling of information overload. How can we take back control and regain our footing? Here are the 3 most effective approaches to mitigate information overload and avoid unnecessary stress.
Do you feel like you’re pulled in too many directions? Is daily planning about as futile as sorting Lego, when the universe seems determined to scatter your beautiful piles? In the short term, it is easier to manage our work the way we always have. But this doesn’t fix the inequality when our lists are longer than our days. We need a fresh approach. Here's how you can take small steps each day, so you can simplify your work, reclaim time, and create better results. Over time, these small steps will add up to radically different days. Simplified days with amplified results.
Do you ever wish we had our own “off” button so we could power down and recharge like our phones? Why not try a phone diet with me? This could be exactly the kind of reboot we need throughout the holidays - or any time of year.
A recent study shows people disengage from their work when they receive uncivil emails, then sadly, bring this email stress home and transmit it there. How can we protect ourselves from reacting so strongly? Modelling great email etiquette ourselves is a powerful way to positively influence others - and resolve this problem. I recently shared this, and other email etiquette strategies, on CBC Radio and I’ve compiled them here for you. These are helpful for us as senders and receivers.
Email is a powerful communication tool but like all good things, too much can turn downright onerous. From excessive reply-alls, to messages inappropriately marked as urgent, to convoluted requests, a small amount of email abuse adds up to a tremendous drain on a team. Is it time for your team to sign a Team Email Charter? Read on for some suggested email policies to ensure your team is using this valuable tool as efficiently and effectively as possible.
You probably know this already but you may be getting too many emails. If this resonates, you are not alone. Email is a powerful tool and it can make life easier but when your inbox continues to grow despite your best efforts to whittle it down, it can become a source of unnecessary stress and anxiety. Thankfully, we have ten simple but effective ways you can reduce email volume, take control of your inbox – and leave some room for inspiration in your day. Read on to learn more.
