1. Reduce the time spent in meetings & make the tracking of action items much, much easier using the new Who button in the Assistant.

Take advantage of the power built into that little Who button to the Assistant for all managers with direct reports. Note if you don't see that button in your copy of ManagePro the dbo (database owner) needs to enable your access rights to "Allow People Planner Access" and identify those people and meetings you are given the right to view.? Once the dbo (database owner) has given you access to your direct reports, you'll find goals, to-dos and upcoming events for each of their direct reports and meetings listed under the drop down Who button display.?

If you aren't reviewing an entire project, the Assistant provides the basis for immediately improving every meeting you lead, whether with one individual or a group.? You will quickly profit from the focus and visibility that comes from the ability to look at what goals, action steps and tasks are due this week, what are the outstanding to-dos, upcoming events/appointments this week, as well as the progress on those records identified as priority one.? The ability to view this data and the supporting progress updates can reduce your meeting time by easily 40% or more, plus the ability to make sure you and your team are on the same page, aligned with what's priority and of value... in minutes, is huge!? Plus new tasks and to-dos are immediately captured (ex. use the Goal Details or the Quick Input pull-down menu)? Setting priorities and focus for each of your direct reports has never been this easy.

2.? Improve your focus and cut down the clutter using the new "Lead Person" option.

If you've been working with ManagePro very long, you'll quickly notice that you can use it to track a lot of detail; sometimes you realize it can be a staggering amount.? (Now you know why you never feel like you can get caught up.? As you look at all the goals, action steps and tasks that you are assigned to in one role or another, it can run into the hundreds of items and get over-whelming when trying to focus on the question of "What are the most valuable areas to focus on today?"? Here's a couple of suggestions for how to solve that problem.

2.1 First of all, using version 6.7, work your way through the My Goals planner and add an asterisk after those records in which you are the "lead" person.? Next, within the My Goals planner set a filter to view only those records for which you are the lead - using the filter condition below (and of course your initials).? This will immediately improve your focus as it differentiates what you are responsible for as the team lead, versus assigned to as a team member, supervisor, department head, advisor, etc for visibility purposes.

Note: In the Condition drop down list, there is also an option for "Lead equal to logged in Person".? Only use that to define the tabbed views in the Assistant. e.g. use the "Lead Person Equals" filter to apply to planner tabbed views, and the "Lead equal to logged in Person" when customizing any of the Assistant tabbed views!

2.2 Here's what to do narrow the focus even further.? You can add the additional filter of Field: Due Date; Condition: Within the next; Value: 7 or 30 days, to get a look at everything you are leading that is due within the next week or month respectively.? We suggest you also add a filter that removes any items that are already completed with the filter of Field: Status; Condition: Not equal; Value: Done.

If that filtered view is something that works for you, have your dbo configure a tab view that incorporates that filter setting so that focused display is always available under a tab setting.

3. Improve your effectiveness - start your day by planning and priority setting relative to value using the "Todays Planner" feature

How you start your day is critical to your overall efficiency, effectiveness and mood.? Most people start it opening Pandora's box, e.g. they start by responding to email, voicemail and checking their calendar to see where they need to be next.? This has merit, but it quickly puts you under the tyranny of the urgent.?

Here's some tips to get you started in the right direction as you begin each day:

Open up ManagePro before you open up any other program and take 10 minutes to review your goals and tasks, and given the day's demands, establish what's priority for today.? Get in the habit of using a priority setting of 1 to signify those items that need attention today or this week or this?quarter, and use the goal planner tab "Top Priority" to focus yourself and the efforts of your direct reports.
An even more flexible option, especially if you are using Priority 1 for other purposes, is to use the right click option of "Today's Calendar/Planner" to push those items you want to emphasize into and at the top of your My Calendar view.? Use this to create visibility for yourself on goals and tasks that aren't just related to deliverables, but also to prompt you to focus on leadership and management skills.? For example, you could create and flag a goal to mentor at least one person a day, check in with one of your top?customers each day, remember to provide recognition, etc.
Having established the "what's important today" foundation, then work through your email and phone mail, taking advantage of the Outlook email Drag and Drop and Quick Input functions to either document or convert into simple action items the information coming at you.

?Top^