• Where’s Ann Michael? – Spreading the word about improving productivity at Rochester Business Alliance, Strong EAP, Hudson Mohawk Chapter of ASTD, Victor Rotary and more.
• Feature Article – Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders
• Ann Michael Recommends – Getting that E-mail Under Control – Finally!

For the past several summers, we have ventured to Cape Cod for our family vacation. One of our favorite stops every year is the Brewster Store – a fun old time general store where our children love visiting the "penny" candy section.


What makes you feel like a kid in a candy store? Is it shopping for new furniture? Is it discovering a great new recipe? Or maybe spending the evening with good friends? Well, for me, it’s discovering and playing with new tools that make my life easier. Ever since I was a child, I’ve looked at my world and thought, how can I get this done sooner – without sacrificing quality – so that I can go out and play?

For the past several months, I have had the opportunity to test new tools that have given me that kid in a candy store feeling. I have so many new tips and tools to share with you during the coming months that my excitement may get the best of me. So don’t be surprised if you hear from me a little more frequently – somehow I don’t think you’ll complain once you see what I’ve got in store!

GO System Workshop:

Don't just tell people to work harder. Rather, provide them with simple, specific, and effective solutions that offer quick relief to workplace stress, frustration, and anxiety.

The word "GO" stands for Getting Organized! The GO System, a proven course that helps you become more focused, organized and productive, addresses seven major issues that help significantly improve workplace results:

• Establishing strong foundational habits
• Processing incoming items
• Prioritizing
• Using time rationally
• Effectively managing projects
• Understanding personality types
• Understanding psychological issues
• The bottom line – you’ll get more done!
  

In order to remain competitive, even highly successful companies constantly look for ways to get more done, in less time, and with fewer people. With the GO System, you will be able to help your employees:

• Ensure that time spent at work is quality, productive time
• Decrease productivity-killing stress and anxiety
• Improve their ability to follow up and follow through on assignments
• Improve their ability to quickly recover from unexpected interruptions
• Increase their contribution to the bottom-line results of your organization

Don’t allow your employees, clients and profits to get lost in the shuffle and confusion of a disorganized, unproductive work environment. Implement the GO System and build your success on a sound foundation of highly organized people.

Next workshop:
October 8, 2009
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Rochester Business Alliance
150 State Street - Suite 400
Rochester, NY 14614-1308

Click here to register

So what does "head-toes-knees-shoulders" have to do with being more productive at work? "Picture two kindergartners, just starting school. Their teacher suggests playing a silly game called Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders. When she says ‘touch your head,’ - she actually wants the children to reach down and touch their toes, and vice versa. One child nails it, overriding the spoken commands to follow the instructions she has memorized. The other just can't help touching her noggin.

It seems like a trivial thing, but according to a recent study in Developmental Psychology, by the end of a nine-month school year, the child who excels at this game will have zoomed 3.4 months ahead of the other child in math, and two months ahead in vocabulary.”

The article addresses the topic of self-regulation – people's ability to stop, think, make a plan, and control their impulses – and the growing body of evidence that self regulation can be taught.

So what does that mean in terms of workplace productivity? Adults can practice controlling their impulses and be rewarded with increased productivity, quality results, and more free time. Here are some tips:

• Prioritize your workload at the beginning of each day
• Create a queuing device to support those priorities
• Eliminate (or significantly minimize) distractions
• Create an environment that supports self-regulation
• Seek out training and support for this paradigm shift

Ultimately it’s about controlling behavior in a purposeful way. Doesn’t that just sound easier?

Get Your E-mail Under Control!

Mise En Place is pleased to announce that our premier training course on managing e-mail is now available on demand. You can take this course in our Productivity E-Library at your convenience – no travel time, no webinar schedule to worry about, and no excuses! Here is what you will learn and see in the two parts -- 75 minute video as we work with our e-mail and show you how to effectively manage this incredible productivity tool.

• The proven secrets of managing e-mail
• The 4 players in the e-mail game
• The 5 misuses of an in-box and strategies to prevent the misusesse
• The "golden rule" of managing e-mail
• 5 disadvantages of a full in-box
• 5 steps for clearing out an overloaded in-box
• More than 8 strategies for incoming e-mail management including 3 tips for significantly reducing spam
• Strategies for managing outgoing e-mails including 4 options for directing e-mail traffic
• 5 tips to improve overall performance, processing, and maintenance

  …and more!
  

Additionally, in the Productivity E-Library you will have access to the following course tools:

1. Course Notes
2. Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Managing E-mail
   A 20-page How-to Guide Step-by-step instructions and visuals for Managing E-mail
3. Next Steps Implementation Guide

When you have your e-mail under control, we would encourage you to view the bonus video that is included with this course. In this video we share a tool with you that you will find helpful for managing all of your to-dos!

Register Now!

Insert Text Automatically

Adding your own AutoText entries in Word can be done in a few easy steps:

1. Type the word or phrase you would like to add to your AutoText library in a Word document.
2. Highlight the word or string of characters. Be sure to add a "space" after the last letter.
3. Insert > AutoText > AutoText again.
4. The AutoCorrect box will open with the AutoText tab selected, showing the text you have highlighted.
5. Make sure the text is the way you want in the Preview box.
   Click the Add button.

Ann Michael Henry is the Founder and The Productivity Chef for Mise En Place -- an organization and productivity consulting firm devoted to working with clients to discover the right ingredients for managing e-mail, digital data, paper, and workload so that they can "get cooking" at work and still have time to satisfy their appetite for life.

Her personal philosophy...let's get the work done so that we can go out and play is what motivates Ann Michael. If you liked today's issue, you'll love Ann Michael’s productivity tools, products, and training designed to help you improve your focus, organization, and productivity at work so that you have time to experience all that life has to offer.

Having the right ingredients – tips, tools, and proven techniques – to accommodate an individual's work style is what makes the difference. This is where Ann Michael thrives! Her ultimate goal is to find the recipe that works for you!