Management Tip of the Day: Save Time by Saying No

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile OCTOBER 29, 2012 Save Time by Saying No What matters more: the amount of time you work or the results you produce? Any smart manager would say the latter. Yet, many people spend long, wasted hours at work. If you're struggling to keep control of your time and boost your performance, try doing these three things. Decline meetings. If you don't need to be there, don't accept the invitation. Explain your workload and request to see the meeting's minutes instead. Delete emails. Not all of them of course, but only keep and respond to the most important ones. Dial down your effort. If you can't say "no" to a certain request, recognize that it may only require a B+ effort. Don't spend time bumping it up to an A+ unless you really need to. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Stop Working All Those Hours" by Robert C. Pozen. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Writing Skills Harvard ManageMentor Online Module Skillful writing helps you accomplish your business objectives and extends your influence as a manager. Learn to create clearer, more effective written communications. Includes specific guidelines for preparing memos, letters, emails, and other common business documents. One-year single user license. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS To Persuade a Listener, Establish Common Ground How to Cultivate Ethical Employees What to Expect If You Take a Bad Job Change Your Company's Story How to Practice for Your Presentation Three Ways to Stop Procrastination Position Your Start-Up for the Long Term Start Your New Job the Right Way Make Progress on That Long-Term Project Stop Sabotaging Yourself All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's 10 Must Reads Library Set Guide to Persuasive Presentations Guide to Better Business Writing Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2012 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)