Email: is it just a better fax machine?

 Culture  No Responses »
Jun 102011
 

In the past fifty years there have been three major ways that people in business communicate in writing:

1. Post.  Delivered once per day & sorted by someone in the office.

2. Fax. Delivered throughout the day & sorted by someone in the office.

3. Email.  Delivered throughout the day & sorted by the recipient.

Can you see why email now takes up so much time in every day?  The mail we receive is no longer sorted by someone whose job it is to sort the mail. Instead, the person whose job it is to run the company is sorting the mail!

Do you think John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford or even Richard Branson sorted their mail? Of course not! They were too busy running their companies.

No office ever had personal fax machines on every desk that were checked and read every 5 minutes. Email is the new fax.  Email is not important!  Running your business is…

“Backgrounds have no place in my life!”

 Culture  No Responses »
Jun 092011
 

How we all spend the minutes, hours, weeks & years of our lives is purely choice. Very few adults have anyone to tell them how to spend their free time.  However, what is chosen really is important..

A couple of hours ago my wife picked up my iPhone 4, checked out the screen and said “I think it’s time to change the background image on your phone.” My response: “backgrounds have no place in my life!”

I was joking with her, but, it did make me stop and think.  Honestly, I am not particularly interested in spending time and making decisions on what my phone looks like when I’m NOT using it!  The cobblestone image that is there right now (thanks Steve Jobs) is just fine.  My phone is something I use everyday and it’s helpful.  But, it’s time with me is likely to be 12-18 months and then a new one will come along.  The background image during that period can stay the same. 

Instead of changing the image, I wrote this blog.  To me, this was time much better spent.  What do you think?

How to make 33.3% of your job go away forever..

 Culture  No Responses »
Jun 032011
 

Answer: Go on a short holiday!

Seriously, if you are a Manager/CEO/Business Owner with people reporting to you, going on holiday is a fantastic way to create ongoing time in your diary (even after you get back!).  Here’s how I do it…

It’s well documented that people work much more productively in the days prior to going on leave.  But that hurried approach rarely gets even all of your own tasks done let alone allowing time to train others.  This plan will take much longer – at least 2 to 3 weeks.  It will, however, be some of the most effective hours you ever spend in growing the people around you.  So get organised and prepare well in advance by thinking in thirds:

  • 33.3% of your normal job will be done before you leave (prep)
  • 33.3% of your normal job will be done while you’re away (training / delegation required)
  • 33.3% of your normal job will be done when you get back (catch-up)

The 33.3% critical tasks that need to be done while you are away are the key to this plan.  These important tasks that can’t wait till you come back, are going to permanently handed over to someone else.  

These tasks need to be documented and delegated very carefully.  Do this properly.  Document what needs to be done and why.  Then select the best person to complete these tasks and take the time to train them. Don’t rush it. Be patient and stay close so you can catch them doing your critical tasks well.  Provide as much positive and constructive feedback as you can until the new skills have been mastered.

And once these tasks have been mastered by someone else, what’s happened?  You’ve just done yourself out of 33.3% of your job.  Perfect!  Now go on your holiday, let the guys at the office run the place like it’s theirs (tell them you trust them to do just this) then come back to much more time in your diary… 

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