Take control of your workload and competing priorities

Receive practical hands-on skills instruction to help you absorb proven techniques for a total time-management solution.
Integrate communications, tasks, activities, planning and apply the WorkingSm@rt® method using Microsoft Outlook

• 1-day instructor-led session using Outlook
• Coaching session to reinforce learning

Please note, this course is still running in Outlook Classic mode. We are aware of the ‘New Look’ option, but as this is still in beta test and ever changing, with Microsoft advising a tentative launch date of October this year, we have no idea what the final product will look like as they wait for feedback from users that have turned on “New Look”.

This workshop is designed for workgroups and teams including managers, technical and sales professionals, supervisors, administrators and project leaders who currently use MS Outlook, and are not optimizing this powerful software.

Some experience in Microsoft Outlook is required as this course is aimed at current Microsoft Outlook users..

• Create a consistent focus on priorities

• Gain control of your inbox and email

• Improve your communications

• Manage your time, tasks, and activities

• Use Outlook with a ‘business planning’ approach

Unit 1 Being Productive:

This unit will introduce you to the key elements to help you refine your organizational toolkit with an increased understanding of working on those areas that add greatest value and the need to prioritize.

With this productivity platform in place, you will be in a better position to recognize and manage distractions and interruptions.

Unit 2 Setting Yourself up to WorkSm@rt:

You will gain a deeper understanding of what’s available in the Outlook “toolbox” and set up the main components to enable you to work smart with enhanced focus. Learn how to increase your productivity and eliminate unhelpful habits.

Unit 3 Manage your Workload with Tasks:

Convert your to-do list into a plan that enables you to get more done, and learn how following the 4Ds productivity matrix can help you get your tasks under control. We’ll show you quick ways to convert emails into tasks and discuss how to prioritise and action your to-dos.

Unit 4 Manage your Emails Effectively:

We will show you how to manage your emails. You will learn ways to manage emails you can’t act on immediately and learn how to deal with low priority emails. We will show you effective ways to file and find your mail and stay with your priorities regardless of the volume of email traffic.

Unit 5 Managing Commitments to Enable a Sense of Achievement:

You will learn the importance of the Outlook Calendar and how to avoid becoming a victim of “planning fallacy”. The exercises will help you become a more proficient time manager and begin the process that ensures a sense of achievement.

Unit 6 Achieve Better Results Through Effective Communication and Delegation:

Learn how to plan, capture and follow-up effectively on important communications and delegations.

Unit 7 Priority Planning for Results:

You will discover how the planning process works for you. The planning cycle will help you become more strategic in your daily choices. Through consistent on-time delivery you will be able to have a greater sense of accomplishment individually and as a team member.