The Art of Selling Are Your Time Management Skills... Underwhelming? By Art Waskey 2010.02 Remember when cell phones, IPODs, Blackberry, and Blue Tooth all promised that state-of-the-art technology would provide the ultimate solution to more effective time management? In today’s fast-paced business environment, immediate answers would instantly be available! Last week I went on a 3-day business trip and was totally overwhelmed by the 572 emails in my inbox when I returned.
As a time management coach, I frequently hear, “I just dread leaving the office! I’m in the field for two days and have over 200 emails and 40 voice mails waiting for me when I get back. I just hate that!” /> Even searching for straight answers to simple questions can be overwhelming. This morning, I googled “high speed communications.” In 0.27 seconds, I had 38,300,000 results! There on my screen were strange sounding solutions to problems I didn’t even know I had:
• Is your PC Fanless with a high speed 485-interface? • The Chaos of High Speed Communications • Embedding the Clock in your High Speed Data is the Trick
In David Allen’s book, Getting Things Done, are five tips for “staying in control” of the demands of your customers and prospects:
1. Designate tasks: As tasks develop, write them down and assign completion dates. Categorize tasks (office, home, computer, business, personal), and move these to your calendar.
2. Operate with a “zero” e-mail and paper in-basket: Don’t waste time reviewing items in your email box. Rule of thumb, “If you can’t get it done in under 3–5 minutes, place it somewhere for when you’ll have time to finish it. For emails, create file folders: Take action, Waiting for response, Read anytime. For paper in-basket items, create file folders by customer, project, vendor, etc.
3. Maintain a functional calendar:Place appointments for all calls on key accounts, hot prospects, meetings, personal project time, etc. on your calendar. Copy and paste these appointments for your next contact. This will develop a highly functional weekly and monthly planner.
4. Create a “next step”: Add to your appointment notes the key action step that creates momentum to move the task towards your ultimate goal.
5. Daily Debriefing: Allocate a maximum of 30 minutes daily to review the day’s activities; use your calendar to plan the next day. An excellent check list: Things to do, People to see, Places to go, People to call, and Things to discuss/delegate.
6. Weekly Review: One hour review suggested: your current lists (Take action, Waiting for response, Read anytime), last week’s calendar, next week’s schedule, and current/pending projects.
You CAN regain control, decrease stress, and improve productivity instantly and effectively ... without reading 38,300,000 suggestions!
Art Waskey is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for General Air Services and Supply Company in Denver, CO. He can be reached at awaskey@generalair.com.
