That was quite a list - 15 items in all.
We now have an exercise so that you can think about applying those techniques. The exercise involves reading a short story about part of someone's day in an office.
Read the following story and make a note of the techniques for greater efficiency that people applied and those they should have but didn't.
There are 3 of each.
After the story, you'll be asked to indicate those items from a list.
It was 9.30am, Alison was in the office, writing a memo to a colleague, when the telephone rang.
"Good Morning" she said. "Can I help you?". There was a pause while the other person spoke.
"Certainly" said Alison, "come over anytime and we'll have a chat. Bye", and with that she put the phone down. Looking in her Filofax, Alison noticed that she had to go and see her boss.
"Can you take any messages for me?" she asked, "I shouldn't be long". Then she disappeared into the boss's office. Ten minutes later she emerged.
"There's an emergency meeting this afternoon", she announced.
"What about?" asked the secretary.
"I've forgotten" said Alison. "But we have to be there at 2pm".
"Can you ring Mr Jones now", said the secretary, "He rang yesterday when you were out".
"Certainly", said Alison picking up the phone.
Here is a reminder of the ideas and techniques we looked at:
| 1) Increase your reading and writing skill | 8) Keep "chit chat" under control | |
| 2) Make good notes and keep them | 9) Do not be a fidget | |
| 3) Make up your mind first time | 10) Listen | |
| 4) Make weekly and daily plans | 11) Learn to type | |
| 5) Control that telephone | 12) Use a diary | |
| 6) Make dates specific | 13) Develop a Hold-Over System | |
| 7) Give advance notice of meetings | 14) Use a reminder system | |
| 15) Don't waste the time of others! | ||
Based on the previous story and the techniques that we have just mentioned, make a list of the techniques used and those ones that have been missed. The solutions to this exercise are included in the next section... (Don't cheat!!)