Problem Possible remedies■ Only ask for written memos
and reports when you really
need them
■ Encourage people to present
information and reports
clearly and succinctly
■ Ask for summaries rather than
the whole report
■ Take a course in rapid reading.- Too many e-mails to deal with ■ If it really matters go and talk
to them
■ Rediscover the power of a
phone call
■ Use handwritten notes
■ Get yourself off distribution
lists
■ Use Out of the Office Auto-
reply more
■ Check your inbox only once or
twice a day
■ Practise sending a succinct
reply – ‘yes/no/let’s talk’. - Too many letters/memos to ■ Use the telephone or e-mail
write or dictate more
■ Avoid individually typed
acknowledgements. - Paperwork piling up ■ Do it now
■ Set aside the first half hour or
so in the day to deal with
urgent correspondence
■ Leave a period at the end of
the day for less urgent reading
■ Aim to clear at least 90 per
cent of the paper on your desk
or messages in your inbox
every day. - Lost or mislaid papers ■ Arrange, or get your PA to
organize, papers on current
projects in separate, easily
accessible folders
198 How to be an Even Better Manager