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	<title>Ian's Messy Desk</title>
	
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		<title>Learn How to Manage Your Boss</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:05:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian McKenzie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ismckenzie.com/?p=2890</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[No matter where you work, you report to someone – maybe even to two or three bosses. And whether you think your boss is brilliant or a bore, the fact is that you have to manage the relationship with your boss if you want to advance your career.
Many of us give little thought to managing [...]]]></description>
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<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/_gt-uRHQt-6J5Tcp70jDuKWIlCc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/_gt-uRHQt-6J5Tcp70jDuKWIlCc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/_gt-uRHQt-6J5Tcp70jDuKWIlCc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/_gt-uRHQt-6J5Tcp70jDuKWIlCc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><p>No matter where you work, you report to someone – maybe even to two or three bosses. And whether you think your boss is brilliant or a bore, the fact is that you have to manage the relationship with your boss if you want to advance your career.</p>
<p>Many of us give little thought to managing our supervisors. We do so at our own peril. Supervisors can have a lot of influence over our success in a job and our long-term career plans. Supervisor recommendations carry a lot of weight when it comes to decisions about raises, promotions, training resources and even job references. Why then do we fail to develop positive work relationships with our supervisors?</p>
<p>In the past, the supervisor-employee relationship has been view as one-way, with the supervisor as boss and the employee subservient to their authority. It is better to view the relationship as a partnership involving mutual dependence. Supervisors need the contributions of subordinates, just as subordinates require support and resources from supervisors. Both parties need to co-operate in order to fulfil requirements and achieve goals.</p>
<p>Why do so many employees try to stay out of the way of supervisors and avoid their notice? Surveys indicate, more than 50 per cent of employees list relationships with immediate supervisors as the worst aspect of their job. Sure, there are poor supervisors, just as there are poor employees. However, both employees and supervisors are responsible for creating effective working relationships.</p>
<p><strong>Develop positive working relationships</strong></p>
<p>Employees, consider your immediate supervisor as an important internal customers. Ask yourself, what does my supervisor needs from me? What is the preferred work style of my supervisor? What kind of environment does my supervisor work in and what pressures do they experience?</p>
<p>What does your supervisor expect of you? Use this information to guide and build your interactions. Remember, supervisors are busy people with many demands placed on them. Make good use of their time and resources.</p>
<p><strong>Take initiative<br />
</strong></p>
<p>The workplace is fast-paced; it&#8217;s smart to take the intiative. Don&#8217;t wait for your supervisor to give detailed directions. Instead, show initiative, demonstrate sound judgment and ask questions. Ask your supervisor for feedback and act on the feedback. Most supervisors appreciate the participation of employees in company work activities. For example, participate in meetings, volunteer to sit on important committees and welcome delegated tasks as a way to increase your skills.</p>
<p><strong>Be professional</strong></p>
<p>You create good working relationships with your supervisor by acting professionally. Meet work deadlines and keep your supervisor informed about accomplishments and problems. Be honest and don&#8217;t agree to do things if you have no intention of following through on them.</p>
<p>The workplace requires you keep up-to-date about developments in your field and improve your work skills through ongoing learning. Avoid the temptation of becoming a superhero, working solo for long hours with excessive overtime. These behaviours can have negative effects on your family and volunteer activities. Learn instead to become a team player and to strike a good balance between work and family responsibilities.</p>
<p><strong>Be resourceful</strong></p>
<p>Growth requires change. Supervisors appreciate employees that are resourceful. Be creative, share ideas and develop problem-solving skills. Have Plan B on standby, in case Plan A doesn&#8217;t yield the outcome measures or standards required.</p>
<p>Flexibility is a worker&#8217;s key asset. Practise time management skills and schedule time each week for networking. Know who you can call for help when you need it. Supervisors are looking for self-motivated individuals who are interested in more than financial rewards alone.</p>
<p><strong>The choice is yours</strong></p>
<p>Supervisors can be an advocate or an adversary. The choice is largely up to you. The relationship you develop with your supervisor should not be left to chance. Learn to manage your supervisor by taking initiative, being professional and resourceful. Treat your supervisor as your most important internal customer and offer exceptional customer service. Doing so will enhance your employability skills and increase your marketability.</p>
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<p><strong><em>Recommended</em></strong>:  <a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=88489&#038;c=ib&#038;aff=16425&#038;ev=b07c488520">The Zen Habits Handbook for Life!</a><em> </em></p>


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		<title>How to Prepare the Room for Your Speech or Presentation</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ismckenzie/ELEH/~3/2KDIAQQYovw/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ismckenzie.com/how-to-prepare-the-room-for-your-speech-or-presentation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:13:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian McKenzie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Communication]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ismckenzie.com/?p=2888</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Think about the time invested in preparing a great speech: research,  organization, practice, preparing a slide presentation, etc. Now,  imagine neglecting the last preparation step by not allowing time to  prepare the facility when you&#8217;ll give your speech.
Your presentation is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. You blast into the room —with the audience [...]]]></description>
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<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/7ec69jD9k2HMr15eFdTPnK5FpU8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/7ec69jD9k2HMr15eFdTPnK5FpU8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/7ec69jD9k2HMr15eFdTPnK5FpU8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/7ec69jD9k2HMr15eFdTPnK5FpU8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><p>Think about the time invested in preparing a great speech: research,  organization, practice, preparing a slide presentation, etc. Now,  imagine neglecting the last preparation step by not allowing time to  prepare the facility when you&#8217;ll give your speech.</p>
<p>Your presentation is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. You blast into the room —with the audience already there— at 9:58 a.m. and proceed to set up your notes and equipment.</p>
<p>Ten minutes later, you&#8217;re fiddling with cables trying to connect the projector to you laptop. You haven&#8217;t booted up yet. It&#8217;s powered by Windows, so we know we have another ten-minute wait while it starts.</p>
<p>By this point, you&#8217;ve pretty much lost your audience.</p>
<p>Make sure that you spend enough time in the presentation room before your speech begins. Don’t let unforeseen circumstances put a damper on your speech. Get the details of the location where you will deliver your speech ahead of time.</p>
<p><strong>Before leaving</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Make sure you have all the material you need: notes, files, handouts, USB stick, projector, etc.</li>
<li>Double check your equipment. Make sure it&#8217;s working.</li>
<li>Bring extra hardware as practical. Have two memory sticks, with the presentation file. Throw in an extension cord and extra connector cables for your tech. hardware.</li>
<li>Make sure you have directions to your location, so you can get there early.</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>At the location<br />
</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Arrive early. At minimum, you need time to get your material ready. Better yet, be there early enough to set up and then greet audience members as they arrive. You can help build rapport with the audience by spending a few minutes chatting with them.</li>
<li>Check the set-up. Can everybody see the speaker and presentation  clearly? If possible, arrange the chairs and tables in a configuration that works for you.</li>
<li>Make sure that the room is comfortable. Is it  too hot or cold? Can you adjust  the temperature?</li>
<li>Set-up any electronic equipment you are using and test it to make sure it&#8217;s working properly and can be seen easily.</li>
<li>Make sure the cables and cords are run in a safe manner. A roll of masking tape is helpful for keeping the cable out of the path of audience members.</li>
<li>If the venue is providing the equipment, take a few minutes to make sure you know how to operate  it.</li>
<li>Test the microphone and sound system, standing where you’ll be using them.</li>
</ol>
<p>Preparation at <strong>every</strong> stage of the process leads to a successful speech or presentation.</p>
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		<title>How to Get Organized Using Lists</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:08:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian McKenzie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Productivity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[List]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ismckenzie.com/01/30/use-lists-to-manage-your-life/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My wife is the queen of lists. She carries a iPod Touch and can, with a swipe and a couple of taps, pull up whatever information she needs to plan her next action. For example, she tracks all our shopping lists. If we pop into Home Depot to pick up a gallon of paint, she [...]]]></description>
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<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ZLebU22Kk30B5LYWURIERUY4zsM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ZLebU22Kk30B5LYWURIERUY4zsM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ZLebU22Kk30B5LYWURIERUY4zsM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ZLebU22Kk30B5LYWURIERUY4zsM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><p>My wife is the queen of lists. She carries a iPod Touch and can, with a swipe and a couple of taps, pull up whatever information she needs to plan her next action. For example, she tracks all our shopping lists. If we pop into Home Depot to pick up a gallon of paint, she checks to see what other hardware items we might need, saving a second trip. She has lists of gift ideas, quotes for greeting cards, honey-do’s and much more.</p>
<p><strong>Organized people don&#8217;t rely on their memory — they rely on their lists.</strong></p>
<p>Lists are the simplest tool or system for managing your life. They consolidate all your tasks in one place. They can tickle your memory or stimulate your creativity. Lists can be as simple or as complex as you need.</p>
<p>Here is a quick outline of some of the lists you can keep:</p>
<ul>
<li>Reference
<ul>
<li><a title="Address Book" rel="tag" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Address_book">Address Book</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Dates
<ul>
<li>Birthday</li>
<li>Anniversary</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a title="freeware pim personal information managers" href="http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Freeware/Personal_Information_Managers/">Personal information</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Account information</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Action
<ul>
<li>To-do</li>
<li>Bills to pay</li>
<li>Projects</li>
<li>Communication</li>
<li>Planning</li>
<li>Context-based</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Shopping
<ul>
<li>Groceries</li>
<li>Clothing</li>
<li>Household</li>
<li>Gifts</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Ideas
<ul>
<li>Someday/Maybe</li>
<li>Quotations</li>
<li>Blog content</li>
<li><a title="Learning Opportunities" rel="tag" href="http://lifehacker.com/350198/stay-on-top-of-personal-development-with-to+learn-lists">Learning Opportunities</a></li>
<li>Entertainment
<ul>
<li>Movies</li>
<li>Books</li>
<li>Music</li>
<li>Restaurants</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>David Allen suggests lists can be useful, fun, and interesting. These are a few I keep on my PDA:</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Account and $ numbers </strong>- credit card #s, PIN #s, etc. (<strong>Be careful with this list</strong>. It should be encrypted and protected with a strong password)</p>
<p><strong>Basic personal numbers (self and family members)</strong> &#8211; drivers license, social security, insurance policies, Whatever you may need for yourself and others when filling out forms. (<strong>ditto on encryption</strong>)</p>
<p><strong>Birthdays </strong>- (if you don&#8217;t put them on your digital calendar system), group by date, as reviewable (those during a month, put in tickler for that month, etc.)</p>
<p><strong>Gifts </strong>- organized by people and/or a general list of neat things to buy for others and where to get them. Great for birthdays, ad-hoc niceness, and Christmas time.</p>
<p><strong>Ideas I don&#8217;t know what to do with, now that I&#8217;ve had them&#8230;</strong> &#8211; we all have them, and they don&#8217;t fit anywhere except in an &#8220;they don&#8217;t fit anywhere&#8221; place</p>
<p><strong>Restaurants </strong>- for business or pleasure, to review for ideas instead of same-old same-old.</p>
<p><strong>Style or product numbers I may need when I&#8217;m buying things</strong>- oil filter, vacuum cleaner bags, labeller cassettes, etc.</p></blockquote>
<p>See them all at <cite><a href="http://www.davidco.com/tips_tools/tip2.html">The David Allen Company —Cool/convenient lists to have</a></cite></p>
<p><strong>What are some of the lists you use?</strong></p>
<p>Once you have your lists in place and in your planner, putting them to work should be easy.</p>
<p>If you want an interesting perspective on our use of lists, read the Sasha Cagen book, <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1416534695?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=iansmessyde07-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=15121&amp;creative=330641&amp;creativeASIN=1416534695">To-Do List: From Buying Milk to Finding a Soul Mate, What Our Lists Reveal About Us</a>.</p>
<div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 445px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;">David Allen suggests some lists can be useful, fun, and interesting, that fit in the area of &#8220;reference&#8221; or &#8220;support.&#8221; Theses are a few that I keep on my PDA —encrypted as necessary.<br />
&lt;blockquote cite=&#8221;http://www.davidco.com/tips_tools/tip2.html&#8221;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Account and $ numbers&lt;/strong&gt;- credit card #s, PIN #s, etc. (if you&#8217;re using a Palm you can put these in Tel/Add, make them &#8220;private&#8221;, and turn off the Private view so that you only can see those entries when you turn it on with your password.)</p>
<p>&lt;strong&gt;Basic personal numbers (self and family members)&lt;/strong&gt;- drivers license, social security, insurance policies, Whatever you may need for yourself and others when filling out forms.</p>
<p>&lt;strong&gt;Birthdays&lt;/strong&gt;- (if you don&#8217;t put them on your digital calendar system), group by date, as reviewable (those during a month, put in tickler for that month, etc.)</p>
<p>&lt;strong&gt;Gifts&lt;/strong&gt;- organized by people and/or a general list of neat things to buy for others (fresh maple syrup from Vermont, styluses for Palms, etc&#8230;. and where to get them.) Great for birthdays, ad-hoc niceness, and Christmas time.</p>
<p>&lt;strong&gt;Ideas I don&#8217;t know what to do with, now that I&#8217;ve had them&#8230;&lt;/strong&gt;- we all have them, and they don&#8217;t fit anywhere except in an &#8220;they don&#8217;t fit anywhere&#8221; place</p>
<p>&lt;strong&gt;Restaurants&lt;/strong&gt;- for business or pleasure, to review for ideas instead of same-old same-old.</p>
<p>&lt;strong&gt;Style or product numbers I may need when I&#8217;m buying things&lt;/strong&gt;- oil filter, vacuum cleaner bags, labeller cassettes, etc.&lt;/blockquote&gt;<br />
See them all at &lt;cite&gt;&lt;a href=&#8221;http://www.davidco.com/tips_tools/tip2.html&#8221;&gt;The David Allen Company —Cool/convenient lists to have&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/cite&gt;[</p>
</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Zemified by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_a.png?x-id=c1bc44e4-e92e-4ea0-967d-d7b7ff532352" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta"></a></div>
<p><strong><em>Recommended</em></strong>:  <a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=56260&#038;c=ib&#038;aff=16425&#038;ev=f3c58ab7d9">Zen to Done Productivity eBook</a><em> </em>The Ultimate Simple Productivity System</p>


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		<title>8 Ways to Develop Your Employees</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ismckenzie/ELEH/~3/1kzKkGMJ_AY/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ismckenzie.com/8-ways-to-develop-your-employees/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:35:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian McKenzie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ismckenzie.com/?p=2880</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Over the past couple of years, we’ve gone from a strong economy that has created job growth to a down turn that has led to layoffs and rising unemployment. The current economic trend is indications of improving. Regardless of the economic climate, there is challenge of recruitment and retention.
One strategy that can improve recruitment and retention [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/YwW1lOrEdrj0fQLuq3FAJDwbBps/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/YwW1lOrEdrj0fQLuq3FAJDwbBps/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/YwW1lOrEdrj0fQLuq3FAJDwbBps/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/YwW1lOrEdrj0fQLuq3FAJDwbBps/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><p>Over the past couple of years, we’ve gone from a strong economy that has created job growth to a down turn that has led to layoffs and rising unemployment. The current economic trend is indications of improving. Regardless of the economic climate, there is challenge of recruitment and retention.</p>
<p>One strategy that can improve recruitment and retention is training. Investing in staff training and development can alleviate skill shortages by improving your current staff’s abilities to handle increased or new challenges.</p>
<p>Training may sound expensive, but the cost of turnover is even more expensive. Replacing and employee can cost between 50 and 100 per cent of a positions&#8217; annual salary! With this in mind, take a look at the following eight ways to develop your employees, from <a title="ALIS" href="http://www.alis.gov.ab.ca/tips/archive.asp?EK=8784" target="_blank">AILS</a>.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Training</strong>
<ul>
<li>A well-designed training program that maximizes learning before, during and after instruction translates into positive, lasting changes on the job.</li>
<li>Effective programs should include orientation, on-the-job training and classroom instruction.</li>
<li>Internet-based learning is an option that allows employees to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Self-directed learning</strong>
<ul>
<li>This approach puts individual employees in control of their own learning, allowing for personal differences in learning styles and encouraging ownership of the learning process.</li>
<li>When using this approach, many employers work with employees to develop a learning contract or personal development plan. The contract or plan, which is signed by both parties, outlines clear learning goals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coaching and mentoring</strong>
<ul>
<li>Demonstrated benefits of these approaches include improved quality and quantity of work, transfer of learning and, for employees, improved communication and problem-solving skills.</li>
<li>Effective coaching and mentoring programs depend on the skills and personality of the mentor or coach, adequate time for coaching and mentoring sessions and established time-lines and goals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Employee promotion</strong>
<ul>
<li>Promoting someone to a position of greater responsibility is a traditional way of rewarding good performance, developing employee skills and retaining valued employees.</li>
<li>Effective promotion involves careful consideration of many details, including identifying gaps in skills and experience and providing support through training, coaching or mentoring.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Job enrichment</strong>
<ul>
<li>Job enrichment increases the employee’s authority or responsibility within their current position. Examples include committee work, special assignments or serving on cross-functional teams.</li>
<li>This approach increases interest and motivation by allowing employees to try new skills, build new relationships and explore new areas of specialization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Job rotation and cross-training</strong>
<ul>
<li>Job rotation moves an employee through one or more different positions. The rotation can last several hours, several months or even a year or two. Cross-training is a specific type of job rotation where an employee learns the skills of a different position.</li>
<li>These approaches can effectively add diversity and interest, prepare individuals for promotion, rejuvenate work units and improve communication.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lateral moves</strong>
<ul>
<li>In a lateral move, an employee moves to a different position with similar status, pay and responsibility. A lateral move may offer new challenges or encourage the development of different skills for an employee who may not necessarily want increased responsibility.</li>
<li>This approach increases flexibility and communication among work units and, in small businesses with few opportunities for advancement, helps to retain valuable employees who might otherwise leave.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Job aids</strong>
<ul>
<li>Job aids include checklists, tip sheets, wallet cards, posters, pictures, code lists, flow charts and diagrams—anything that offers on-the-spot practical help or reminders. Job aids can reduce the amount of information employees need to recall by providing easily accessible facts.</li>
<li>Well-designed job aids are concise, written in plain language and make good use of white space and graphics for easy interpretation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<p>Effective training and development better equips an organiztion to meet business challenges from filling staffing shortages to retaining current staff. Developing employee skills help generate the kind of performance that carries employers and employees forward.</p>
<h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em;">Related articles by Zemanta</h6>
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<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://r.zemanta.com/?u=http%3A//www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/jan/30/apprenticeships-government-scheme&amp;a=12308224&amp;rid=7232cd1d-588c-4f06-b00b-cc4a32be50ec&amp;e=105465724a6725584835c4dc083b06a1">What an apprenticeship can do for you</a> (guardian.co.uk)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://marketingonlineinternet.com/3614/paving-the-way-to-success-in-business-using-online-training/">Paving the Way to Success in Business Using Online Training</a> (marketingonlineinternet.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/grant-cardone/training-pays-off_b_407854.html">Grant Cardone: Training Pays Off!</a> (huffingtonpost.com)</li>
</ul>
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<p><strong><em>Recommended</em></strong>:  <a href="http://tubaism.mmmanifest.hop.clickbank.net/">The Mind Mapping Manifesto</a><em> </em>A Practical Cure for Information Overload</p>


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		<title>7 deadly sins for speakers and presenters</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ismckenzie/ELEH/~3/pb1M1bt-4uc/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ismckenzie.com/7-deadly-sins-for-speakers-and-presenters/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:19:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian McKenzie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Communication]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ismckenzie.com/08/21/7-deadly-sins-for-speakers-and-presenters/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It takes a lot of preparation to craft the kind of speech or presentation that is going to grab your listener’s attention. Once the speech is crafted, you need to spend a lot of time practising, so as to make sure you keep their attention.
Listeners don’t give their attention lightly and it doesn’t take much [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/V8V3JZR5oAnovk1bJ_T5y1U4liU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/V8V3JZR5oAnovk1bJ_T5y1U4liU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/V8V3JZR5oAnovk1bJ_T5y1U4liU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/V8V3JZR5oAnovk1bJ_T5y1U4liU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><p>It takes a lot of preparation to craft the kind of speech or presentation that is going to grab your listener’s attention. Once the speech is crafted, you need to spend a lot of time practising, so as to make sure you keep their attention.</p>
<p>Listeners don’t give their attention lightly and it doesn’t take much for it to wander. Here are seven bad speaking habits that will guarantee your listeners will be focusing on other things, instead of what you’re presenting.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Rambling</strong> – if you don’t know where you’re going, the audience is not going to follow. If you do not have anything to say, sit down! No one has ever complained  about a speech that ended early.</li>
<li><strong>Speaking in a monotone</strong> – not only are you at risk of losing their attention, you might even put them to sleep. Speaking in a monotonous voice is a real communication killer. When you don&#8217;t vary the pitch of your voice, it is difficult for the listener to maintain any interest in what you’re saying.</li>
<li><strong>Appearing to have limited topic knowledge</strong> – people come to listen because they expect you know what you’re talking about. You need to know your topic backwards and forwards. Research your topic thoroughly while preparing your speech.</li>
<li><strong>Poor eye contact</strong> – lack of eye contact creates a  barrier between you and the audience. Make a connection to the listener; they want to know you’re speaking to them.</li>
<li><strong>Pacing, wandering or fidgeting</strong> – often a sign of nerves, it can be distracting to the audience. You may not eliminate the nerves, but preparation and practice can reduce the appearance of nerves.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of preparation</strong> – if you haven’t made the effort to prepare, why should the audience make the effort to listen?</li>
<li><strong>Poor storytelling skills</strong> – nothing communicates concepts better than stories. If you want to hold on to the listener’s attention, learn to tell stories well.</li>
</ol>
<p>Other posts you may find helpful:</p>
<ul>
<li><a title="10 ways to improve your public speaking" rel="tag" href="http://www.ismckenzie.com/10-ways-to-improve-your-public-speaking/">10 ways to improve your public speaking</a></li>
<li><a title="A simple template for a farewell speech" rel="tag" href="http://www.ismckenzie.com/a-simple-template-for-a-farewell-speech/">A simple template for a farewell speech</a></li>
</ul>
<h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size: 1em;">Related articles by Zemanta</h6>
<ul class="zemanta-article-ul">
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/how-to-give-a-great-speech-part-2-delivery.html">How to Give a Great Speech: Part 2 Delivery</a> (lifehack.org)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.andybudd.com/archives/2010/01/7_ways_to_impro/">7 Ways to Improve your Public Speaking</a> (andybudd.com)</li>
<li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.socialmedia.biz/2009/11/03/5-ways-to-improve-your-presentation-skills/">5 ways to improve your presentation skills</a> (socialmedia.biz)</li>
</ul>
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<p><strong><em>Recommended</em></strong>:  <a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=56260&#038;c=ib&#038;aff=16425&#038;ev=f3c58ab7d9">Zen to Done Productivity eBook</a><em> </em>The Ultimate Simple Productivity System</p>


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		<title>10 Tips to Help You Stay Organized</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:42:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian McKenzie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Productivity]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ismckenzie.com/03/04/10-time-management-tips-to-keep-you-on-track/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Learning how to get organized is one thing, but staying organized is a completely different matter.  Many people put off getting organized because they&#8217;re not sure they can sustain the process long-term. Breaking your disorganization habit takes more than making sure to put things in their place.
Once you have a system in place and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-NZH0ekumMLc_nQvs2i_hUNlH98/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-NZH0ekumMLc_nQvs2i_hUNlH98/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-NZH0ekumMLc_nQvs2i_hUNlH98/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/-NZH0ekumMLc_nQvs2i_hUNlH98/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><p>Learning how to get organized is one thing, but staying organized is a completely different matter.  Many people put off getting organized because they&#8217;re not sure they can sustain the process long-term. Breaking your disorganization habit takes more than making sure to put things in their place.</p>
<p>Once you have a system in place and you know how to be organized, you will need to know how to stay organized.</p>
<p><strong>Conquer clutter immediately</strong>. Clean up clutter as soon as you create it. If your desk harbours mounds of papers, books, files and personal accessories, you may be adding unnecessary stress to your day. An organized desk will help you relax and become more productive.</p>
<p><strong>Conquer clutter daily</strong>. Schedule 10 to 15 minutes each week to clear your work area of junk mail, old papers, and other accumulated clutter. Eliminate behaviours that lead to clutter.</p>
<p><strong>Defuse distractions</strong>. Distractions can add up to a major drain on <a class="zem_slink" title="Productivity" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Productivity">productivity</a>. Check out these three posts for tips on eliminating external distractions:<a title="5 Tips for Handling Unwanted Workplace Visitors" rel="tag" href="http://www.ismckenzie.com/03/27/5-tips-for-handling-unwanted-workplace-visitors/"></a></p>
<ul>
<li><a title="5 Tips for Handling Unwanted Workplace Visitors" rel="tag" href="http://www.ismckenzie.com/5-tips-for-handling-unwanted-workplace-visitors/">Uninvited visitors</a></li>
<li><a title="handling incoming communication" rel="tag" href="http://www.ismckenzie.com/handling-incoming-communication/">Incoming communication</a></li>
<li><a title="5 steps to useful meetings" rel="tag" href="http://www.ismckenzie.com/5-steps-to-useful-meetings/">Unproductive meetings</a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>A place for everything and everything in its place. </strong>Quick—can you tell me where your toothbrush is?  I bet you can. Most people know  exactly where their toothbrush is, because those things have a specific  home. Everything in your office or home should have its own place so you can find things quickly and easily. As you probably can&#8217;t remember every item in every storage space, use a  label maker to label the space.</p>
<p><strong>One in, one out.</strong> Get rid of something every time you bring an new item into you office or home. When  you buy a new item —something  in the same category has to go. Overcrowding items invites  disorganization.</p>
<p><strong>Use the one-year rule.</strong> Everytime you come across an object or piece of paper, ask yourself if you&#8217;ve used it in the past year. If the answer is no, chances are, the item can go. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.</p>
<p><strong>Write it down. </strong>This is a must. Have you ever had a great idea, heard  something useful or needed to remember something later? If you  didn&#8217;t jot it down, then and there, you likely forgot it. Unless you have very little to do or the tasks you have are highly  repetitive, you cannot depend on your brain to recall everything. The things that are most immediate are going to push away  things in the background —often the most important. By writing things  down you free up you brain to analyze the information and make  productive decisions.</p>
<p><strong>Set routines.</strong> You should not try to work against your inner nature. What time of  day you are at your best? Schedule the toughest work for your period of  peak productivity. Schedule patterns for eliminating clutter and disorganization. The idea of &#8220;Spring Cleaning&#8221; has been around for a long time because it works. Set routines for archiving files, maintaining equipment and vehicles, running errands, etc. If you need reminders, mark the date in your calendar.</p>
<p><strong>Plan and schedule.</strong> If a major organizing job arises, don&#8217;t sit around waiting for a golden opportunity to get started. Break it down into smaller chunks and schedule a process. Tasks can also be grouped for increased efficiency: file all at once, prepare  invoices all at once, answer e-mail all at once.</p>
<p><strong>Share the load</strong>. Maintaining the system doesn&#8217;t have to be a one-person job. As the old saying goes, “many hands make light work.” Performance of dreaded tasks—like an annual inventory—can be a lot more fun when many are involved and frequent breaks are scheduled.</p>
<p>A couple more thoughts for keeping organized:</p>
<p>Introduce a bit (or a lot) of fun into your work. It will make the day easier. Instead of looking at the negatives, look for the positives. Instead of looking for problems, look for opportunities. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, look for constructive solutions.</p>
<p>Celebrate the achievement of goals. Promise yourself a reward for completing each task, or finishing the total job. Then keep your promise to yourself and indulge in your reward. Doing so will help you maintain the necessary balance in life between work and play.</p>
<p><a title="ann mcgee-cooper Creating Workplaces Where People Are Happier, More Productive, and Committed" href="http://www.amca.com/">Ann McGee-Cooper</a> says, “<em>If we learn to balance excellence in work with excellence in play, fun, and relaxation, our lives become happier, healthier, and a great deal more creative.</em>”</p>
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</ul>
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<p><strong><em>Recommended</em></strong>:  <a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=56260&#038;c=ib&#038;aff=16425&#038;ev=f3c58ab7d9">Zen to Done Productivity eBook</a><em> </em>The Ultimate Simple Productivity System</p>


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		<title>7 Leaderships Tips From Leaders</title>
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		<comments>http://www.ismckenzie.com/7-leaderships-tips-from-leaders/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:20:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian McKenzie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Peter Drucker]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[What is a leader?
A leader is a person who guides others toward a common goal, showing the way by example, creating an environment in which other team members feel actively involved in the entire process. A leader is not the boss of the team, but the person that is committed to carrying out the mission [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/RHkR_DS4I9SjQTSogDOBiQFBt5s/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/RHkR_DS4I9SjQTSogDOBiQFBt5s/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/RHkR_DS4I9SjQTSogDOBiQFBt5s/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/RHkR_DS4I9SjQTSogDOBiQFBt5s/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><p><strong>What is a leader?</strong></p>
<p>A leader is a person who guides others toward a common goal, showing the way by example, creating an environment in which other team members feel actively involved in the entire process. A leader is not the boss of the team, but the person that is committed to carrying out the mission of the venture.</p>
<p>Leaders exist to get things done. <a class="zem_slink" title="Leadership" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership">Leadership</a> is needed beyond the bounds of politics and business. Leadership is needed in families; schools and universities need leadership; charitable organizations need leadership. In fact, whenever there is an opportunity for two or more people to collaborate to get something done, leadership is a key ingredient.</p>
<p>Here are 7 tips on the subject of leadership from those who have demonstrated themselves to be leaders:</p>
<p><strong>1. &#8220;Leadership can be thought of as a capacity to define oneself to others in a way that clarifies and expands a vision of the future.&#8221; Edwin H. Friedman</strong> &#8211; Leaders have vision. They share a dream and direction that other people want to share and follow. The leadership vision goes beyond your mission and vision statements. A leader&#8217;s vision permeates the workplace and is manifested in their actions, beliefs, values and goals.</p>
<p><strong>2. &#8220;Most important, leaders can conceive and articulate goals that lift people out of their petty preoccupations and unite them in pursuit of objectives worthy of their best efforts.&#8221; John Gardner</strong> &#8211; Leadership is proactive rather than reactive. Leaders are good in crises – but they don&#8217;t sit around letting crises develop. Leaders identify potential problems and solve them before they reach crisis proportions. Leaders have an ability to identify and reap potential windfalls. Good leaders analyze and plan, then adapt their plans to changing circumstances and opportunities.</p>
<p><strong>3. &#8220;If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader&#8221; <a class="zem_slink" title="John Quincy Adams" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Adams">John Quincy Adams</a></strong> &#8211; Actions still speak louder than words, particularly when your philosophies and behavior motivate people to do their best work. Nothing builds and sustains credibility like someone who leads by example.</p>
<p><strong>4. &#8220;The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.&#8221; Walter Lipmann</strong> &#8211; John Maxwell calls it The Law of Legacy &#8211; A leader&#8217;s lasting value is measured by succession. Leaders develop and grow people, people who will help to build and lead the future of the enterprise.</p>
<p><strong>5. &#8220;The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say &#8216;I&#8217;. And that&#8217;s not because they have trained themselves not to say &#8216;I&#8217;. They don&#8217;t think &#8216;I&#8217;. They think &#8216;we&#8217;; they think &#8216;team&#8217;. They understand their job to be to make the team function. They accept responsibility and don&#8217;t sidestep it, but &#8216;we&#8217; gets the credit&#8230;. This is what creates trust, what enables you to get the task done.&#8221; <a class="zem_slink" title="Peter Drucker" rel="wikipedia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Drucker">Peter F. Drucker</a></strong> &#8211; Developing the confidence and capability of your people will raise their self-belief. Show them you believe in their potential. Encourage them to take risks. Help them to learn when things go wrong . A leader who boosts the self-esteem of people will always be more successful in retaining people.</p>
<p><strong>6. &#8220;Leaders are more powerful role models when they learn than when they teach.&#8221; Rosabeth Moss Kantor</strong> &#8211; Great leaders have the ability to gain knowledge, acquire skills and adapt behaviours to achieve their goals. They always improve their skills and learn. They study people and learn how to effectively interact with them. They understand the importance of continuous learning. Leaders have the ability to ‘unlearn&#8217; old behaviours and develop new ones.</p>
<p><strong>7. &#8220;Whatever happens, take responsibility.&#8221; Anthony Robbins</strong> &#8211; It&#8217;s easy take credit when things go right, and shift the blame when things go wrong. It’s particularly tempting for a leader. A leader is positioned to blame just about anyone and anything when things go wrong. However, as a leader, you must take responsibility. When things go wrong, if your first instinct is to look for someone to blame, stop. Ask instead, “what can I do to help fix this?” You&#8217;ll only get better at what&#8217;s under your control.</p>
<p>In summary, a leader:</p>
<ol>
<li>Has a vision</li>
<li>Has a plan</li>
<li>Leads by example</li>
<li>Develops people</li>
<li>Builds confidence in people</li>
<li>Keeps learning</li>
<li>Takes responsibility</li>
</ol>
<p>Look at this list above and ask, how well do I stack up against these seven points? What ONE thing could I start doing that will enhance my skills as a leader?</p>
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		<title>How to write an elevator speech</title>
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		<comments>http://www.ismckenzie.com/how-to-write-an-elevator-speech/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:33:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian McKenzie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Communication]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Elevator pitch]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ismckenzie.com/09/11/how-to-write-an-elevator-speech/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Our public relations director came by my office recently with a prospective volunteer board member. As part of the introduction, the director asked me to outline my role, in 30 seconds or less. Well… I hemmed, hawed and took about 90 seconds to stammer out a rambling answer.
Time to write an elevator speech.
What is an elevator speech? [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/2Rt6oZ1C5V5uEaIplCUpJV_n_nU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/2Rt6oZ1C5V5uEaIplCUpJV_n_nU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/2Rt6oZ1C5V5uEaIplCUpJV_n_nU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/2Rt6oZ1C5V5uEaIplCUpJV_n_nU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><p>Our public relations director came by my office recently with a prospective volunteer board member. As part of the introduction, the director asked me to outline my role, in 30 seconds or less. Well… I hemmed, hawed and took about 90 seconds to stammer out a rambling answer.</p>
<p>Time to write an elevator speech.</p>
<p><strong>What is an elevator speech?</strong> An elevator speech is a short description of what you do, or perhaps, a point you want to make, delivered in the time span of an elevator ride (say, thirty seconds or 100-150 words).</p>
<p><strong>Why use an elevator speech?</strong> It is important to be able to quickly introduce an organization, product, service, etc. to potential stakeholders. You only have a few moments to make a first impression. Investing time in developing and rehearsing an elevator speech can make the difference between gaining a new customer/supporter and walking away empty-handed.</p>
<p><strong>What are the key elements of an elevator speech?</strong> Your elevator speech should have three elements:</p>
<ol>
<li>Who you are?</li>
<li>What you do?</li>
<li>How you do it?</li>
</ol>
<p>Three steps to take when developing your elevator speech:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Prepare, prepare, prepare</strong> – This is a short speech that needs to sounds like it’s being delivered off-the-cuff. That means you need to put a lot of work into writing and editing. Then, once you’ve completed the process, go back and edit some more.</li>
<li><strong>Practice, practice, practice –</strong> Know your speech well enough so you express your key points without <em>sounding</em> as though the speech was memorized. Let it become an organic. Practice in front of mirrors and role-play with friends</li>
<li><strong>Tell a story</strong> – Avoid a dry recitation of facts. Listeners will retain more of what you tell them if you share a story.</li>
</ol>
<p>Three things to avoid with your elevator speech:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>A speech that sounds canned</strong> – If you recite something you&#8217;ve memorized, you run the risk of sounding stilted and unnatural.</li>
<li><strong>Avoid jargon</strong> – Keep it simple. Avoid using terminology that is meaningless outside of your industry or organization.</li>
<li><strong>Rambling</strong> – Being familiar with your speech will help keep on track.</li>
</ol>
<p>Next time I’m asked, I’ll be ready.</p>
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<p><strong><em>Recommended</em></strong>:  <a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=56260&#038;c=ib&#038;aff=16425&#038;ev=f3c58ab7d9">Zen to Done Productivity eBook</a><em> </em>The Ultimate Simple Productivity System</p>


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		<title>11 Golden Rules of Time Management</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:07:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian McKenzie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Productivity]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ismckenzie.com/04/16/11-golden-rules-of-time-management/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Understand the value of your time: We may all value our time differently, but we all have the same number of minutes in a day. Once they are lost, they are gone forever. 
 Plan: You don't plan fai...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/8oPsvnmOzlcoMS28PYGrCvTyYdE/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/8oPsvnmOzlcoMS28PYGrCvTyYdE/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/8oPsvnmOzlcoMS28PYGrCvTyYdE/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/8oPsvnmOzlcoMS28PYGrCvTyYdE/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><p>No one manages time; they only manage how they use their time. Successful people use their time on the things that matter most and on tasks that move them closer to their goals.</p>
<p>Consider the following &#8220;golden rules&#8221; of time management. See if you can be more effective in how you use your time.</p>
<ol>
<li>Understand the value of your time: We may all value our time differently, but we all have the same number of minutes in a day. Once they are lost, they are gone forever.</li>
<li>Plan: You don’t plan failure, but you have to plan for success.</li>
<li>Do tomorrow’s planning today: Don’t wait until you’re in the middle of the day to figure out what you need to accomplish. Determine that before the day starts.</li>
<li>Identify your “prime time:” What part of the day do you have more or less energy? Plan high-energy or low-energy tasks accordingly.</li>
<li>Work from an action list: Create lists from which to work.</li>
<li>Schedule tasks as needed. Check off completed items. Revise the list as needed.</li>
<li>Ask yourself, “Why am I doing what I’m doing right now?” and ask it often: Always evaluate what you are doing to ensure the most productive use of your time.</li>
<li>“Delete” whenever possible: Eliminate clutter, file the completed, delegate wisely, learn to say NO.</li>
<li>Check your calendar: Have a good system to track time-sensitive events.</li>
<li>Be flexible: Have the ability to accommodate the unforeseen. Sometimes the urgent will have to override the planned.</li>
<li>Take a day off now and again: Have days for unplanned relaxation and spontaneous activity.</li>
</ol>
<p><strong><em>Recommended</em></strong>:  <a href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=56260&#038;c=ib&#038;aff=16425&#038;ev=f3c58ab7d9">Zen to Done Productivity eBook</a><em> </em>The Ultimate Simple Productivity System</p>


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		<title>5 Tips for Effective Delegation</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ismckenzie/ELEH/~3/OWzzL50xvBs/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ismckenzie.com/5-tips-for-effective-delegation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:01:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ian McKenzie</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Add new tag]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Delegation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motivation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ismckenzie.com/?p=2861</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a manager/supervisor, you just can&#8217;t do it all. To achieve effective results, you need to able to delegate projects and work to others. By effective delegation, you communicate to your employees that you have confidence in their ability to complete a job or project.

Define the task and identify the outcome, not the process. The [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AEeBgmmyl0yMUB6hdiVzDgojx-g/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AEeBgmmyl0yMUB6hdiVzDgojx-g/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/>
<a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AEeBgmmyl0yMUB6hdiVzDgojx-g/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AEeBgmmyl0yMUB6hdiVzDgojx-g/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><p>As a manager/supervisor, you just can&#8217;t do it all. To achieve effective results, you need to able to delegate projects and work to others. By effective delegation, you communicate to your employees that you have confidence in their ability to complete a job or project.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Define the task and identify the outcome, not the process</strong>. The process that works for you may not work for others. Maybe you’ve been doing a job one way, because that’s how you were taught 20 years ago. When <strong>delegating</strong>, describe the successful outcome and let the person to find their best way to completion. Who knows, you might learn something from them.</li>
<li><strong>Give enough authority to accomplish the task</strong>. If the person receiving the task has to get approval at every or most step of the way, you might as well have done the job yourself. Turn the employee loose, with the resources to achieve the desired outcomes.</li>
<li><strong>Monitor the process, but allow people room to work</strong>. Don’t micro-manage! (See tip 2.)</li>
<li><strong>Make yourself available for support or feedback</strong>. Just because you’re not micro-managing doesn’t mean you disappear completely. Let the delagatee know that you are there to answer questions or to review milestones.</li>
<li><strong>Reward and recognize effort as well as results</strong>. An employee who is trying a task for the first time, may not get the whole thing correct. Make sure you recognize and reward the effort expended and the steps done well. Then, the next time you delegate, they will be able to build on the successes of the earlier effort.</li>
</ol>
<p>Plus: <strong>Don’t dump your garbage jobs on your employees</strong>. Delegation is not an excuse to get rid of the crap your don’t want to do. You employees will recognize that strategy and will not see it as a development opportunity.</p>
<p>Through effective delegation, you can expand the range of what you can accomplish, as well as developing the skills and strengths of the team you manage.</p>
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