March 2011 - Issue 81 - www.clareevans.co.uk

Hello ,

Spring is in the air.  The days are getting longer and out in the garden, things are definitely starting to break into bud. 

Sometimes you need to take a step back, get a fresh perspective, sweep out the cobwebs and put the spring back in your step.

Enjoy a free Strategy Session

If you want to spend less time at work and more time enjoying the summer sunshine and long weekends this year, find ways to grow your business with less time and effort - book up a free 30 minute Strategy Session.

Just hit reply and send me an email or complete the contact form on my website and I'll get back to you to book up a session.

There are only a limited number of these sessions available each week, so it's first come, first served.

Keep in touch and get extra news, offers, tips and info from my blog or Follow me on Twitter.

Enjoy the rest of this month's newsletter.

Clare

P.S. Feel free to pass this newsletter on to friends and colleagues.

Are you always the last person to turn up at a meeting?

Do you find yourself always rushing to get somewhere and arrive hot and bothered, stressed out by the traffic, public transport or trying to find somewhere to park?

Would you rather arrive cool, calm and collected?

Being late shows a lack of respect for the people you've kept waiting. Most people hate being kept waiting, even though they do it themselves, although as they're always late they don't realise this.

Arrive on time or early for meetings - not only does it give a good impression but it builds respect and trust. If you're always late - how does it reflect on your attitude to both your clients and your work?

Social events may be a little more flexible about start times or being prompt or 'fashionably' late but it's no excuse for constant lateness.

Work backwards from your planned arrival time and aim to arrive at least five to ten minutes early (if the journey is less than an hour) and up to 30 minutes or more if it's longer.

Take into account that if you're travelling in peak rush hour you're journey could take longer. Allow for hold-ups, accidents and diversions.

Plan your route. The AA and RAC have Route Planners where you can check your route and the timing. Allow 20% extra time.

Don't rely entirely on SatNavs - while they can give you route map, directions and expected journey time, they're not infallible.

We've all heard stories or people ending up in entirely the wrong place or being taken down a cart track. The people who turn up latest are often the one's using SatNavs.

Google Streetview is great for seeing exactly where you're going.

On a familiar route you'll have a better idea of how long it will take. For a new route or location leave plenty of extra time.

For meetings - aim to get there when registration begins, NOT when the meeting starts. Allow time to find the venue, park, locate the meeting room and get a drink before the meeting.

Avoid trying to do 'one last thing' before you leave. Inevitably this ends up taking longer than planned and you end up being late before you start.

Allow an extra few minutes to switch off your computer, get your papers together, gather up your keys, mobile, laptop etc. If you have an early start, get all these things ready the night before.

Too many people only allow for the actual door-to-door travel time and don't allow an extra five to ten minutes needed either end.

Get an earlier bus, train or even a plane.  If you happen to miss it or the flight gets delayed you've still got a second option.

If you do get lost or delayed - make sure you have the number of the person you're meeting and the venue location, so you can at least phone up and let them know.

Apply the same principle for meetings at your office in locally. Leave a few minutes to get there and get settled. Don't dash in and sit down just as the last person (you?) arrives.

If you arrive early - you can always make use of the extra time - especially with mobile technology these days - or carry paperwork or reading material with you.


Get more tips, ideas and information when you book a free Strategy Session.  Give me a call or email me - www.clareevans.co.uk.

Until next month.