Superwoman

For this month’s blogs, I have chosen a topic dear to my heart, Superwoman. This marks the 25^th year I have been teaching, revising, updating and researching for one of my most popular seminars Superwoman: Are You Invincible? For you that are not familiar with this session, I teach women how to get over trying to be perfect and just do the best you can!  It is a fun packed, information rich session for women only. 

Women always complain they never have enough time.  But we have all the time there is.  We get 24 hours.  That’s it!  The problem with women is we try to get 28 hours out of the 24 limit.  Here are some tips on Stop Wasting Your Time:

1.      Stop trying to train your family to do things your way, uh, the correct way.

They love you but not that much to do things exactly as you want.

2.      Stop being everything to everyone. They aren’t doing anything for you.

You know why?  Because they wouldn’t do it correctly, according to your right point of view.  Thus, you’ve trained your family to stop helping at all.

3.      Lower your expectations.  You won’t get your feelings hurt so often.

Stop insisting on being perfect.  You’re not perfect and neither is anyone else.

Have you ever thought your family might like to be on your priority list

Have you ever thought your family might like to be on your priority list and not just an after thought?  So often we are acutely aware of every client need but we fail to see the needs for our  family.  Here’s some tips on Putting Family On The A List:

1. When making your list of things to do for the day include a specific timeframe for “family only” activities.

2. Always meet your commitments with the family just like you do with customers.

3. Follow through with promises.  You are always watched by your kids and spouse for keeping promises. You are the role model for your children to learn responsibility.

4. Imagine your family’s happiness when they know they really count in your busy life.

Personal phone calls at work are a major concern for employers.

Personal phone calls at work are a major concern for employers.  With cell phones and Facebook, employees waste 35% of their work time on personal matters.  Now, how would you like to sign an employee’s paycheck knowing they have only given the company 65% of their day?  Here’s some wise Advice for Social Media Addicts:

1. Don’t look at your personal Facebook on the job, period.  Now if you suffer from withdrawals-develop a schedule to check it only twice a day.  

2. Are you really that important that you have to that connected?  Focus on work.  That is why you are getting paid.

3. Remember just 5 years ago we actually went hours before getting a return call or receiving an email reply and we still provided met customer and co-worker needs.

4. Look up when you are walking and try to speak to people. Others are tired of dodging self absorbed people in hallways and on the street who can not keep their eyes on anything but the equipment they have in their hands.

So you have a long winded caller and they will not stop talking

So you have a long winded caller and they will not stop talking.  Why, they don’t even take breaths!  What to do?  They just don’t have a clue we are busy.  Here are some tips on Eliminating The Long Winded Caller:

1. Interrupt them and get the immediately back on the subject

2. Tell them you appreciate the story about XYZ but you have two minutes before a meeting.

3. When you call them – tell them you only have 5 minutes to chat so you need to make it quick.

4. Call them when you know they are away from their desk or gone home and leave a voice mail

You know who else wastes your time?

You know who else wastes your time?  Co-workers!  Everyone has at least one coworker that has to need to chat with you at the most inopportune times.  You have tried to hint you are busy.  You have even told them this is not a good time.  You have even walked out of your own office and they have followed you.  Wassup with that?  Here are some tips for Getting Rid of The Pests:

1. Close your door if you have one.  That’s why they are hanging on their hinges.

2. Move your desk to not face the door. If you face traffic you are the one inviting interruptions.

3. When they walk in – stand the entire time they are in your office. It helps, really.

4.  If you have a cube and they hang over the edge of your walls – put chalk along the edges and they will soon learn they get messy when they invade your space.   If that doesn’t work –shattered glass works miracles!

Guess who wastes the most time in a work environment?

Guess who wastes the most time in a work environment?  Managers!  Managers interrupt staff every 6-9 minutes. And, the poor admin are interrupted every 2-3 minutes.  No wonder we can not complete tasks!    Here are some tips to Prevent Others From Wasting Your Time:

1. Stop the “gotta minutes?”  It interrupts co-workers’ train of thought and productivity.  Save up the interruptions to a minimum of only three times daily.

2. Remove the chairs from your office if you can.  The chairs serve as an open invitation for people to take a break in your workspace.

3. When constant interrupters visit – stand up the entire time.  It gives the impression that you are busy.

4. Encourage appointments.  Usually by the time the appointment arrives, they have already solved the problem.

One would think in this day and age

One would think in this day and age, that people would know how to use a phone, right?  Often we are still mistreated on the phone because people think if we can’t see them they can just behave in any manner.  Here are some tips to being for Telephone Professionalism:

1. Cut the small talk.  It wastes everyone’s time.

2. Plan the call for ease of conversation and focus. 

3. Come to a prompt close once business has been completed.

4. Cut off long winded callers by interrupting them while gently guiding them back to the subject.

Texting is a dangerous way of communication

I think Texting is a dangerous way of communication.  First, it takes away the importance of interpersonal communication.  Second, it leads us to believe everything is urgent.  Third, it’s leads us to think we are indispensable.  Here are some tips for Proper Texting Techniques:

1. Each text does not have to be answered immediately.  If you are employed, it might be wise to only text business related things during working hours.  Employers are evaluating the amount of time employees are texting.

2. Turn off the text during productive times in the day.

3. Do not text while driving, in a meeting, at a funeral, in church or during job interviews.  Oh, you laugh!  These take place daily.

4. If you have a constant texter – tell them their thumbs will be broken if they do not stop now!

Welcome to Laura Hamilton Seminars’ blogs!

Our goal is to provide informative blogs to enhance your knowledge of the chosen topic of month.  This month we will feature Time Management.

When I started in the professional speaking business in the 80s as a motivational speaker and trainer, I worked with Bill Brooks at The Brooks Group. We conducted Time Management Seminars …long time management sessions!  We usually did three (3) days, eight (8) hours daily to enrich participants’ lives.  Actually, I think we numbed them into time management robots!  Apologies to those who sat through the long sessions!

I have found that time management principles never change – technology does.  People rarely have a good grip on their skills.  Here are some tips for Effective Emailing:

1. In everything time management, always think, do I:    Do It  -  Delegate It  or  -  Dump It

2. Delete unwanted, spam, and non-essential emails before you open any others. – Dump It!

3. Flagging can be used as a delaying tactic instead of taking immediate action – Do It!

4. If the email needs to be forwarded to another person – Delegate It!