"Time Saving Tips"
Posted by Mattie Lawson on 07:38:05 6/26/2006
1. Reduce Wasteful Resource-Intensive Meetings
Statistics show half the time spent in meetings is waste. This means half of meeting time failed to accomplish what was intended and/or the meeting was attended by the wrong people or people who were not prepared for the meeting. This applies to informal face-to-face meetings as well as huge affairs. Before setting up a meeting, make sure it will be a good use of time for everyone.
2. Calculate the Cost of Wasted Time
When you understand how much wasted time costs the business, fixing it quickly becomes a high priority. To calculate the cost of wasted time, apply a "rule of thumb" for the cost of a minute of an average employee's time. Include benefits and perks in the calculation (usually equal to an employee's pay). Multiply this amount by the time spent on any particular activity that fails to perform as required for you or your customers. Double this cost if the person could have used the time to do something productive for you.

3. Plan to Do it Right the First Time
Save time by treating the activity you are doing as if it were valuable to you. When you value something, you take the time to do it right the first time. This means planning in advance to reduce surprises and eliminate variation in your handling processes. Consider disaster planning, training/skills, perceptions, tools, delays, and other details that aren't necessarily part of your product or service but could impact your success.

Mattie Lawson
www.getmoretime4you.com