A big time waster can be the telephone. Unexpected calls interrupt work flow and long conversations put a wrench into the schedule. Even calls that are necessary for the overall functionality of your business can be unproductive.
A good goal in managing your time is reduce the time we spend on the phone. There are several ways to do this. See if any of these telephone time management techniques will work for you.
- Turn off the ringer and use voice mail or an answering machine. I do not answer the phone during homeschool hours, ever.
- Set aside a time each day to check your messages and return calls.
- Have an agenda when making calls. I know it may sound cold, but try to stick to the topics on your list. This makes the conversation stay focused and saves time during the call. It also helps eliminate call backs due to forgetting important items.
- Use a service like Grand Central. It’s a free voice mail service from Google. It will redirect your calls to home, cell, or voice. It also announces your caller so you can decide if you need to pick up the phone.
- If you are in network marketing and call leads, check into a phone dialer service. This will shave hours each week and increase your productivity.
Maureen 
