F a f Bi rege cy FE ver view JM wNONacvjy> 13733 2% ess: 1A 5895 a. 36% Inlerchome 10 42 4 \ +999 inleumsysin ete WDA 42% 42 A Ww 24 ' 157 MAEILOID 2 f Wh o34 19% + Yi - -t 14- It’s About Time: Time Management Expert Provides Tips For Using TechnologyTo Increase Productivity @ (NAPSA)—Time is money. Modern life may be defined by constant change, but that one ker- nel of wisdom has withstood the test of, well, time. In fact, in many ways, it’s more relevant now than ever. With an invigorated focus on the bottom line, effective time managementis critical to organizations that plan to remain viable in today’s increasingly fast-paced marketplace. Dr. Larry Baker (http://drbaker center.com), a 25-year veteran in the time-managementfield, sums up the increased importance of pro- ductivity in one word: competition. “As a result of the re-engineer- ing and downsizing that began in the 1980s, and the fact that we now exist in a global economy, there is simply more work per employee and competition than there used to be,” Baker said. “Today’s workplace has changed, and effective time management can help employees regain control of their sometimes-hectic lives. “Technology, when used properly, is one such tool that can help employees better manage their time and be more efficient and effective in their jobs,” he said. For starters, technology can help increase speed andflexibility. Bakersays that information workers are expected to perform multiple tasks more quickly and more effectively than ever. “Every orga- nization and individual must be as dynamic as the world in which they operate,” Baker said. “If not, the world will pass them by. Technology can be a real asset in this area.” Bakercites information-sharing as another key way that technology helps improve time man- agement. “E-mail offers so many options for staying connected,” he said. “Whether you’re away for only a few hours or on a longer business trip, it’s easy to stay informed about what’s going on without spendinga lot of time try- ing to track downdetails.” And being informed, Baker says, can lead to improvements in one of the chief hindrances to productivity: meetings. Technology—particularly e-mail, presen- tation software, note-taking technology such as Microsoft Office OneNote 2008, and automated calendaring systems—can help people be more prepared for meetings and, of equal importance, follow up on items dis- cussed during the meeting. “Unexpected phone calls and drop-in visits used to be the No. 1 barriers to productivity, but they've been overtaken by e-mail,” he said. “E-mail can definitely be a distraction, but popular e-mail programs, such as Microsoft Office Outlook, have sophisticated filter- ing capabilities that can help manageinbox overload.” The key to using technology to improve time managementskills is training, Baker says. He urges organizations and individuals to take advantage of as much train- ing as possible. “Training is a strategic investment,” he said. “To take the view that it costs too much or consumes too much time is shortsighted.” To learn more about improving your productivity and receive personalized time managementtips, consider taking Microsoft’s Per- sonal Productivity Challenge, an assessment tool that takes from five to seven minutes to complete. To take the online survey, visit http://www.microsoftofficeppc.com.
