sphinxx news alert  
3 March 2010 | www.sphinxx.com.au   

This week we talk about how to be more effective and efficient, the progress that we’ve made since 1943, how to make a difference by decluttering your wardrobe and fairtrade chocolate.

1. YOUR CAREER: My “not to do” list for being more effective
2. WORK: Look on the bright side... we've made SOME progress since 1943!
3. LIFE: Declutter and make a difference
4. OFFERS: Happiness is.... guilt free chocolate! 25 blocks of Cocolo fairtrade chocolate to give away

If you have an idea for a topic we should include in a future news alert, please let us know - we’d love to hear from you!

All the best,

Jen Dalitz
Founder & The SheEO, sphinxx.com.au

YOUR CAREER: My “not to do” list for being more effective

I’ve just come out of a whirlwind of activity from planning and hosting our Ascend leadership development days for the quarter. It’s one of those frenzied periods that we all have from time to time, working long hours against tight deadlines while life keeps charging full-speed ahead. I know that you all know exactly what I mean, so I’ll spare you the detail!

But needless to say, with the program complete for the February quarter I was spent… and everyone had had enough of me! So my primary goal last weekend was to do as little as possible. To put my feet up, relax and recharge. Even better, to get out for a gallop on my horse and forget about the mountain of emails… it was bliss!

Taking that time out worked a treat and this week I’m feeling like a new woman! So it got me thinking about what I could not do next time as the workload and pressure is building, and still be more effective. So this is my “not to do” list for the coming quarter – I’m going to not do these things and see if it has a positive impact on my effectiveness and stress levels!

1. I’m not going to take on stuff that’s not my stuff. Have you noticed how some people are just plain hard work? Well I've decided not to go there. If people are unreasonably difficult, I’m not going to work with them any more. It's just too hard.
2. I’m not going to do things that my team could do at least as well. For example, I’m crap at diary management and detail, but Nikki and Sam are great at that. I’m a disaster when it comes to organizing the office, but that’s Barb’s strength. And though I’m good at business management, Shirley is just as good, if not better. I reckon if I get out of their way and just let them do it, we’ll get heaps more done together.
3. I’m not booking back-to-back meetings any more. I’m going to allocate free time each day to think strategically and creatively about my current business priorities. And meetings I do have will be for 30-45 minutes max, with a gap in between so I can complete any actions straight away whenever possible. I’ll take my Mac with me to meetings and email information and intros then and there, which should have a huge impact on my to do list and efficiency levels.
4. I won’t send emails if I can avoid it and I'll unsubscribe to emails I don't want to receive. As I’ve said before, I’m not a slave to my emails, but for the next month I’m going to scrutinize my emails even more. Unless there’s an easy yes/no answer or it’s just a quick info email, I’m going to use the phone instead. Let’s see what impact this has on my time.
5. I’m not going for coffee meetings unless I’ve had a tele-coffee first. This is an idea from my great friend Robyn Henderson – it’s just so much more efficient to apply this filter first, and then follow up only if necessary with a face-to-face meeting. And the bonus for me is I can have telecoffees from the farm!
6. I won’t forget to follow up prospects just because there’s so much to do – because I know it’s so much easier to close a warm lead than to start with a cold one. It’s unforgiveable that I’ve not delivered on all the requests for memberships and speaking proposals that I’ve received in the past fortnight – if one of these was from you, I apologise and I promise I’ll be in touch before the end of the week.
7. Finally, I’m not going to stop exercising just because I’m busy. The beagles suffer the most when this happens, because they miss out on their morning walks, but after that it’s me that suffers and everyone else around me, because I get tired and stressed and cranky. So no more skipping the morning walk, and I’m not going to let a week go by without a decent yoga practice either!

So what do you think – are you ready to start a “not to do” list as well? And what will you put on it? I’d love to see your suggestions – you can post them here on the blog and we'll send a sphinxx pamper pack to the 3 best "not to dos".

As some of you know, I'm currently researching and collating content for our new sphinxx book on What Women Want in the Workplace, mainly because I'm quite sure that many employers really don't know what it is that we're looking for, what works for us and what drives us nuts!

I have to say that there has been some good news stories... but some of the stories women are sharing with me could have come straight from 1943! And if you're wondering what that was like, here's some employer's tips for hiring women in 1943(and thanks to Lara for sharing this one!)

Declutter and make a difference

I've finally done it! Yes, it only took me a year, but I've finally done the wardrobe declutter! (well, that's not entirely true - my personal stylist did it and she was brutal!) But it worked! I've reached my end goal: my clothes now fit in just one wardrobe and everything else is in the recycle pile. And it feels so good!

If you are in the mood for a declutter, you might consider recycling some of your business suits to those organisations that can put them to good use fitting out women in need who are returning to the workforce. In Australia if you're in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane you can contact Fitted for Work or in Sydney you can also contact Suited for Work to arrange a handover of your excess good-quality business clothes.

But what about the other states, or other countries? We'd love to hear from you so we can create a directory of organisations committed to helping us to help other working women - so please post your suggestions here on the blog and we'll help spread the word.

Happiness is.... guilt free chocolate! 25 blocks of Cocolo fairtrade chocolate to give away

It's one of those dreary office days... my to do list is too long... the phone has just rung for the third time with another charity asking for a donation (apparently the do not call list doesn't work for businesses?) and I have 3 articles on deadline that aren't going anywhere. But I'm happy!

Why? Because I have a box of delicious Cocolo 70% dark swiss chocolate sitting on my desk - and it's completely guilt free! Not that I'm suggesting you should feel guilty for indulging in chocolate... but in case you need an excuse ladies, this is FAIR TRADE chocolate!

Did you know that Cocolo is the first Australian owned, fully Fairtrade Premium Organic range of chocolate in Australia? This ethically produced Chocolate is guilt free because it guarantees a better deal for third world producers through Cocolo's Fairtrade certification. And above all Cocolo tastes fantastic! The chocolate is Swiss made allowing for exceptional quality as well as being produced ethically and sustainably.

Would you like to try some? I have 25 blocks to give away to happy working women in our network - to win one click here to email us with your name, postal address and up to 200 words on what you love about your work!