Productive Matters Webinars

Click here to download PDF version of the Training-On-Demand program

Get Organized Using Microsoft Outlook!  You can pump-up your productivity when you learn how to use the many great features of Microsoft Outlook. In fact, when used effectively, it can be like having your own personal assistant! I guarantee these sessions will save you tons of time, help you get organized and eliminate many unnecessary hassles in your day! These are simple, NON-TECHIE demo sessions that will give you the confidence (and maybe even the excitement!) to organize and manage all of your to-do’s, contacts, emails, schedules, follow-ups, and notes with this one tool!

1.  Microsoft Outlook Overview – If you haven’t ventured much past the “send/receive” button, you will be thrilled (and relieved!) to learn about the many features Microsoft Outlook has that can simplify your day and improve your productivity.  This totally “non-techie” overview will cover important Outlook interface features, tons of shortcuts, and what all of those “tabs” on the toolbar can do for you!

2.  Using Tasks - Get Your To-Do List Under Control! – If you have a lot of scattered “to-do’s” and notes and would finally like to learn an easier way to manage all of your necessary follow-ups, this session is for you!  You will be thrilled and amazed at how much time and hassle can be saved with this simple-to-use mega productivity tool!

3.  Using Contacts – It’s Who You Need to Know! - Do you want to build an awesome contact list? Have a lot of contacts to keep up with? This session will show you simple ways to build your list and organize and manage all of your contacts with Microsoft Outlook.

4.  Using Calendar- A Great Scheduling and Balancing Tool - Do you need to learn how to better manage your schedule and properly plan the time for things you need to do? This session will show you how to manage the many aspects of a busy schedule using Microsoft Outlook’s awesome Calendar features!

5.  Smarter Email Management! – Let me help you overcome email overload.  Email is now the most used (and abused) communication tool in the world, yet most people have never had any official training on how to manage it. The volume and frequency of email received by today’s professionals require an entirely different skill set and system. This session will discuss how you can drastically reduce the amount of email you receive each day, as well as help you set up a super-simple processing system that helps you file it and find it fast and so much more! (Most can get their inbox to zero in the first day!)

6. Smarter Email Etiquette – Communicating with email is an entirely different method than from communicating with paper or with spoken words. Since a large percentage of the communications you have with your co-workers, stakeholders, customers and prospects is now done with email, don’t you think you and your team should know the best practices for using it? This session will discuss the most common email mistakes and show you how to save time and improve your communication and your reputation.

7. The Art of Smarter Delegation – Proper delegation is often the most overlooked, yet critical aspect of both smart time management and good leadership skills. Delegation is not “dumping” tasks on others, nor is it necessarily giving up “control.” This session will discuss keys to improve your delegation skills and create a win-win that will help you get things done more quickly and easily.

8. Smarter Planning for Your Day/Week - Studies indicate that for every hour of planning, 3-4 hours are saved by eliminating redundancy, waiting for information, not being prepared, and poorly managed tasks. Yet, fewer than 1 out of 5 people actually start their day with a written plan. Good planning requires a bit more than just a piece of paper and a pen. This session will discuss all of the factors needed for you to plan for a great week and get things done!

9. Smarter Time Management - It’s how you get much more time out of your day. “There’s not enough time!” is the #1 stress factor (and excuse) for most people today. This session will discuss the two secrets for how to add real quality time back to your day and the third key that people often overlook.

10. Smarter Workplace Organization - In a recent national survey, 91% of people polled said they would be more effective and efficient if their workspace were better organized. For most people, clutter and disorganization are serious productivity drainers and stress factors. This session will discuss the “art and science” for setting up a workspace that actually helps you get things done (and maybe even make your co-workers jealous)!

11. Procrastination Cures – Putting off important things that you know you need to do is like dragging around a ball and chain – it nags and nags and gets heavier and heavier, eventually robbing you of peace of mind and draining your energy. This session will discuss how you can greatly reduce your risk of procrastinating on anything, setting you apart from those who allow this to be a habit.

12. Less Stress and More Energy – This session is a real eye-opener for many. The fact is when you are stressed, you are much more prone to work unproductively; and when you are working unproductively, you are much more prone to being stressed!  Not only can stress be a serious and costly productivity problem, it can have a major impact on the quality of relationships and the health of your employees.  This session will discuss how to identify what is causing your stress and many proven remedies for greatly reducing it.

13. Reducing Mental Clutter – “Mental clutter” is most likely the real culprit for the disorganization and lack of time management in your life. This session will help you identify what causes mental clutter and how to get rid of it in order to improve your ability to focus, reduce stress, and get things done!

14. Smarter Meetings – They don’t just happen. – How effective are your meetings or the meetings you attend?  More than 70% of people who regularly attend meetings say that many of the meetings they attend are a major waste of time. How much time could you add back to your week if you could reduce your meeting time by 20%, 30%, or more? This session includes a meeting etiquette checklist, discusses the essential elements of a meeting that must be in place before a meeting is called, effective facilitation techniques that encourage participation and follow-through, and meeting alternatives that can save you lots of time and money! 

15. Minimizing Distractions and Interruptions in the Workplace – One of the top concerns expressed by office-based workers is never-ending interruptions and distractions. In fact, studies show that 2.1 hours a day are typically wasted with unnecessary interruptions and distractions! This session will discuss the most common workday interruptions, as well as give ideas and solutions for reducing these mega time-wasters; thus, allowing you to get the work done and leave the office feeling highly productive!

16. Smarter Information Management – Unless you have found that “paperless society” we heard was coming, you are like most people – still buried in paper!   Not only does the average worker generate over 100 lbs. of wasted paper each year, but they also waste more than five hours a week just sifting through it to find what they need!  This session will discuss great ways for you to eliminate the paper piles and clutter, as well as how to set up a super-simple system that allows you to file it and find it fast!  Don’t worry; we cover email and media too. 

17. A Smarter Professional Image – True professionals look, act, talk and work in a way that sets them apart from others. (These people often make more money too!) This session will discuss the characteristics and practices needed for one to be known as a professional in their field!

18. Smarter Office Etiquette – Talking too loudly in the office, leaving the copier paper tray empty, wearing strong scents and fragrances, hovering over someone’s desk while they are on the phone…does this ever happen in your workplace? This session will discuss the 16 most common office etiquette mistakes that could potentially sabotage your reputation (maybe even your career) and work environment.

19. Getting It Done While Getting Along – In addition to the great diversity we have in the workplace today, we all have different personalities and psychological make-ups that can often make our habits and expectations conflict with others. Having a “If they would just do it my way...” attitude usually doesn’t work well in the long-run. A simple understanding of how people are “wired” can make all the difference for creating a respectful, productive work environment. This session will discuss how to identify, understand and appreciate different personalities and behaviors.

Give us a call or email to discuss how we can help you with the personal and professional development needs of your employees or team members.