Controlling Your Communication

In today's fast paced world, we have endless methods of communicating with each other. We have cell phones, e-mail, text messaging, social media, and instant messaging, just to name a few! All of these tools are intended to make our lives easier and more productive, but often times have the opposite effect. Unless you effectively manage your communication, you will find that you become bogged down instead of liberated. Here are a few things you can do to set yourself free:

1. Chose your poison

What is the best communication vehicle for you? Is it your cell phone? Perhaps it is e-mail? Whatever it is, chose one form of communication, and let others know that this is the best way to communicate with you.

2. Set strong boundaries

The most successful communicators set strong boundaries and stick to them. For example, you can coach your clients on how to communicate with you by leaving a voice mail message telling them when you will return your phone calls. This way, you don't have to react to your phone, but can be proactive and return calls when it is best for you. By instructing others when you will do this, they will usually be waiting for your call.

3. Stop tolerating time wasters

Have you ever had someone call you 5 times, e-mail you 3 times, and then instant message you, simply to ask a meaningless question? If so, you need to put an end to this by having a conversation with this person. Keep in mind that 80% of our wasted time can be traced back to 20% of our customers. Stop tolerating this, and see how much extra time you have!

Looking to improve your time management skills?  Would you like to improve your work-life balance?  Click here to sign up for a complimentary coaching session where I'll coach you on how to make some shifts so that you can have the work-life balance that you deserve.