Productivity Coach's Corner: Trust Me September 06, 2007
By Jason W. Womack
Do you trust your calendar or is it a jumble of reminders and to do's, mixed in with your actual daily meetings and appointments? Do you keep moving uncompleted tasks from one day to the next? For many people, the calendar becomes more of a chore or afterthought than a productivity tool. When you glance at your calendar, it should be a clean shot of what you need to know about your day.
Use this two-step process to clean things up: • Remove everything from your calendar that is NOT day or time specific. • Add the relevant information you need, such as phone numbers, locations, and confirmation codes.
Here is example of what stays on your calendar:
September 10, 2007: Jodi's birthday Mattel seminar proposal due! 8-9 a.m. M. Goldsmith teleconf. (646) 519-5800 PIN 9408 10-11 a.m. Marketing mtg. with Rick, West Conf. Room 214 6:30 p.m. Dinner with Shelley @ Barcliff & Bair, 1112 State St., SB
Now that you have a clear view, when do you actually look at your calendar? Some people remember to check out their calendar midday when they have a terrible feeling they missed something important.
If you've ever missed a morning meeting, make your calendar the opening screen on your computer so it is the first thing you see. Most people are unaware that the main view of Outlook can be changed to have the calendar as the starting page. It is a quick and easy edit to change the "dashboard" view. Likewise, if you use an online calendar, you can make that your homepage by editing your preferences from the menu bar of your online browser.
By having a clear understanding of your day, you'll be better prepared and never miss another 8 a.m. meeting again.
Jason W. Womack, MEd, MA, is the founder of his personal development education company that enhances organizational performance through customized individual effectiveness training and coaching. Visit www.JasonWomackCompany.com for the step-by-step instructions to make your Calendar the starting view of Outlook and other lifesaving productivity tips.
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