Audrey Thomas

Productivity Pointer - Save Yourself a Few Steps     

When setting up a new appointment within MS® Outlook, look in the lower left-hand corner of your appointment screen. You'll see the "Contacts" button. Click on it and your Address Book(s) will pop open. Double-click on any contact name related to this appointment. Now when your appointment rolls around you can easily open up your contact's information without leaving your calendar view. 

This is especially handy for phone appointments or in-person meetings. If you're running late, you can quickly and easily pull up someone's contact information to give them a call. For phone meetings, you can call someone without having to exit your calendar. Everything you need for your appointment is at your fingertips.

Linking to a contact is also available when creating a new Task. If the Contact button is missing in the lower left hand corner of a new Appointment or Task, follow these steps:

Go to Tools > Options > Contact Options button > Select "Show Contact Linking on all Forms" 

Lean Office Review - What's on Your Desk?     

One of the simplest definitions I've heard of the word Organized is "Having what you need when you need it." That goes right along with Lean Office philosophies in keeping and storing items in an organized fashion so you can use them when you need them.

I once worked with a senior level manager at a hospital who liked putting meeting notes in 3-ring binders for the projects and committees she worked on. The problem? Her department only owned one 3-hole punch and it was located in the mail room. So this executive would stack binders and notes on her floor, waiting for the perfect time to snag the punch and get caught up, which rarely happened. Instead, she (and others) would have to carefully step over and navigate the pile of binders as they entered her office. Obviously, it was time for this individual to purchase her very own 3-hole punch as it was a supply she needed on a regular basis.