Networking Tips #27 Little At A Time

I was having a conversation with someone the other day.  They'd just joined a networking group and were wondering how to get across their message and the multiple services they offered in their one minute - without reeling off a shopping list of services.

If you offer a number of services or products it can be tempting to try and cram in as much as possible.  However, it's best not to bombard your listeners with too much information all at once.  They won't be able to take everything in and are more likely to be confused.

If it's a regular meeting you attend every week or every month, you have a great opportunity to say something different each week, which keeps it fresh and interesting.

Pick just one product or service and focus on it for that week.  Next week you can choose something different.   After a few weeks you can go back to the beginning and remind them of what else you do.

Related articles

• Networking Tips #26 Time To Network (clareevans.blogspot.com)

Should I Send This Email

I came across this amusing infographic - one way to minimise the number of emails that land in your Inbox - by not sending round meaningless or irrelevant emails in the first place.

Practice good email habits and try to pass them on to those around you.

• Should You Really Send That Email? (INFOGRAPHIC)

March Newsletter: Make Sense Of Your To Do List

Most people have a To Do list. For many it consists of an A4 sheet of paper or perhaps it's on their computer. Things are added to it and occasionally get crossed off.


Lists are a useful tool when used correctly and help you to create structure in your day. However, they can become a source of frustration, stress and overwhelm when they're not used properly.


Create a daily 'action' list. Tasks you're actually going to do rather than an endless list that you'll never get to the bottom of. 


Here are my top tips for keep your list manageable, productive and efficient: ... "

Read the full article: 'Make Sense Of Your To Do List' in March's newsletter - here.

Register for the free monthly newsletter and get additional tips, information and resources to help grow your business and improve your work life balance direct to your inbox once a month - www.clareevans.co.uk.

Related articles

• Create A To-Do List That Works (clareevans.blogspot.com)
• Simple Steps For Effective Feedback (February newsletter)

International Women's Day 2012

Primary Education in Viet Nam (Photo credit: United Nations Photo)

Today is International Women's Day - the one day a year when we celebrate women's achievements around the world.

Now if this seems discriminatory - consider that women around the world, in many countries are still the oppressed minority.

While the situation is improving for many women in different countries, there's still a way to go - especially in the developing world.

• Women do two-thirds of the world's work.
• They represent 70% of the world's poor.
• They produce half of it's food but earn 10% of it's income
• They only own 1% of it's property.
• Worldwide they only hold 19% of parliamentary seats.
• Only 7% of Heads of State are women.
• They account for two-thirds of the world's illiterate.
• 54% of girls don't receive primary education.

Do what you can to support women around the world who are less fortunate than yourself, who don't have the support and opportunities that you do, who don't even have access to clean running water and electricity, let alone an education.

To support International Women's Day this year, I'm donating £1 to Kiva for everyone who downloads and returns the free Time Audit this month.

International Women's Day Bonus: Quote IWD12 and get your own personalised Audit Feedback session for just £49.99.

Join Kiva today and get a free $25 loan.

Related articles/websites:

• International Women's Day
• UN Report World's Women 2010 (United Nations)
• International Women's Day: Background and Statistics (UK parliament)
• International Women's Day 2012: Not-So-Common Lives of 'Common' Women Around the World (PHOTOS) (ibtimes.com)

Your Email Out Of Office Message

Image via Wikipedia

When I send out emails, especially my monthly newsletter, I regularly get several 'Out of Office' messages back.

It's interesting to see the different type of messages that people use - from the very general and uninformative - "I'm out of the Office" to specific dates and contact information.

Out of office messages are good for when you’re away from the office for a period of time.  They set expectations for the sender.

Include the day/dates you’re out and an alternate contact either phone or email if there's an urgent request.

You can set up Out of Office messages for when you're just away from your desk for the day or for a few weeks holiday.

“Thank you for your email. I am out of the office until day/date. If you have an urgent enquiry you can contact my colleague name at email address (or mobile) I will respond to your email on my return.”

Sometimes it’s useful to say whether you’ll be checking emails in your absence or if there’s a number you can be contacted on if it’s urgent.

One very specific Out of Office message stated that the person only dealt with their email at a specific time each day and that wouldn't be able to respond until then.  As well as giving contact details for more urgent enquiries.

Set a reminder in your calendar or diary to remind you to switch your Out of Office message on and off.  It's easy to forget that you've got one set and it keeps appearing even when you're back.

You can apply the same principles to email and phone messages.

Book Review: Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey

More than just a time management book, this book is just as much about behaviours as it is about habits.

It is, however, a classic and looks at a holistic and integrated approach to improving not only your habits but your life by living in a more principle centred and value focused way.

Habit 1: Be Proactive - take responsibility for your own actions and situation.  Make conscious choices based on your values.

Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind - know where you're going, so you can understand where you are now and the steps you need to take to get you there.

Habit 3: Put First Things First - practice effective self-management by focusing on what's important.

Habit 4: Think Win Win - seek mutual benefit in all human interactions.

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand - how to improve your interpersonal communication skills.

Habit 6: Synergise - the whole is greater than the sum of it's part - value the differences between people.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw - balanced self-renewal at a physical, mental, spiritual and emotional level.

It can be quite dense and heavy going, so best tackled in small chunks and put into practice as you go along, so that you don't lose interest.

The weekly planner is a a great tool and one that I've adapted and use with my own clients over the years.

It also contains the much used four quadrant for organising and understanding the impact of Important vs Urgent.

Get Your Own Copy Today ==> "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R Covey