Time Management : Set Priorities to Get the Right Things Done

USING YOUR TIME EFFICIENTLY

your voice mailbox, you will be able to screen
unimportant calls faster and more easily than
you could by picking up the telephone every
time it rings.
Beware, though, of making a habit of always
letting the phone ring without answering. If
people, particularly clients or customers, realize
that they can’t routinely reach you by phone,
they’ll fi gure out another way to fi nd you—
probably by e-mail—and create another way to
interrupt you.
Returning calls promptly.Of course, missing
phone calls while you are at meetings, client calls,
lunch appointments, and so on is unavoidable.
Make sure your voice-mail greeting is friendly,
but brief and concise. Specify what information

HIGH-TECH INTERRUPTIONS

Unfortunately, technology gives more

people greater access to you and to

your time. Keeping control of your time

and your schedule means focusing on

the priorities you’ve set. But it also

means tuning out the things you don’t

need to be doing. Occasionally avoid

e-mail, cell phone calls, the addictive

handheld wireless device, and anything

else that might take on a life of its

own and detract from yours.

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