During the month of December Audrey is booked solid delivering a wide variety of workshops and training. Here are some of the topics our customers are benefiting from:

*Optimizing E-mail Productivity - This is presented in a half day format and includes a module on improving time management with MS® Outlook.

*Expecting the Extraordinary - An inspirational keynote popular with church groups.

*A Fresh Start: Making the Right Move - This workshop is designed for organizations who are planning a move in the future. It provides tips for purging, packing and settling in.

*Entangled in E-mail - Many of the habits that have been formed around e-mail are bad ones. This seminar challenges our thinking about writing, processing and maintaining the E-mail Inbox.

*Introduction to Lean Office - This is perfect for those companies who want their employees to better understand Lean principles and how they apply to their offices.

*Passport to Productivity - This is a new presentation which focuses on the top habits and practices of highly productive people.

For more detailed descriptions of topics, check out the Speaker's section of our website.

My 2011 Goal to Receive Fewer E-mails

As 2011 approaches, you may or may not be thinking of goals you'd like to achieve in the New Year. One of my goals is two-fold: to be interrupted less often by e-mails and to receive fewer e-mails. If you like the sounds of this, here are a few tips to practice in reaching that goal:

• If possible, adjust the Send/Receive setting in your e-mail management program  to 60 minutes or more. This puts you in the driver's seat as to how often the arrival of e-mail is allowed to interrupt you.  In Outlook, go to Tools > Options > Mail Setup > Send/Receive.
• Minimize your e-mail management program throughout your day so you're not tempted to keep checking for new e-mails. Ideally, checking your e-mail only 3-4 times during the day will allow for optimum productivity.
• Practice "E-mail free Fridays". This suggestion is easier when practiced by your entire department or company. Limit e-mails to outside customers or venders; in other words, no internal e-mails. Sound drastic? More and more companies are experimenting with this including chipmaker Intel and cell carrier U.S. Cellular.
• Remember the Golden Rule of E-mail: "The more you send, the more you shall receive." So instead of sending multiple e-mails (to the same person) when you think of things, wait to gather your thoughts and ideas to send via e-mail, covering several items with one piece of communication. Or make a phone call or visit someone in person instead of using your keyboard. You'll enjoy the personal interaction and it'll remind you of simpler days gone by.

The Magic Six List

Multi-tasking is considered a Waste of Motion in Lean cultures. And yet, so many of us (me included) tend to think we're more productive when we're doing more than one task at a time. But the evidence is against us. According to a University of Michigan study, every time a person multitasks their productivity is lowered 20-40%. So what's the answer?

I've discovered what I call the "Magic Six" list.  It's nothing scientific but it works for me and I share it with you here. I have found that I can consistently get six things done amidst the usual interruptions of my workday. When you look at your To Do list for the day, what six items really need to get done today? Those six items might be something like:

1.   Finish article for Lean newsletter

2.   Outline article for magazine

3.   Read research in trade journal

4.   Make some follow-up phone calls

5.   Rehearse Keynote on Office Etiquette

6.   Finalize contract for new client

Having this short list keeps me focused throughout my day. There are days where only four or five of the items get done and then there are days where all six are done by 3 p.m. Gotta love those kinds of days!