The document provides tips for smarter work in the new year, including refraining from replying to all emails, sharing files through collaboration tools instead of email, avoiding unnecessary meetings, making meetings efficient, researching before asking questions, being concise, starting and ending meetings on time, allowing time between back-to-back meetings, recognizing others' contributions, improving storytelling skills to engage audiences, and wishing the reader a prosperous new year. The tips are presented by Louis Richardson to help people work more effectively through better communication and use of technology.

1. 10 “Smarter Work”
New Year’s Resolutions
Louis Richardson – storyteller & enthusiast – social smarter work
@inter_vivos

2. Reply “None”
Refrain from "Reply All" to emails. The people on the email are just like
you...overwhelmed. If an individual isn't part of the problem or part of the
solution, don't include them.

3. Lose the baggage
Don't send files through emails. Share them using social business tools. This not
only frees up email network traffic, it also helps stay current on the latest
information and unnecessary local storing of files.

4. Avoid calling meetings
How much can you do without interrupting everyone's day? Use social tools for
forums, activities and discussions. Use precious meeting times for only those
things that can't be handled through social collaboration.

5. Make every minute count
If you have to have a meeting, avoiddefault 30/60/90 minute meetings. Don't set a
duration for a meeting until you know what's going to be covered. Then set the time
appropriate for the content. Every minute is important... don't waste a single one.

6. Check before you text
We're so connected, reaching out to ask is often seen as the easiest thing to do. But
often the information may be a click away. Do some quick searches before you default
to asking. Smart people are usually very willing to help, but their time is valuable too.
And often things you learn on your own are better retained than those just handed to
you. Don’t stop being social...just become a contributor, not just a consumer.

7. Be brief.
Here's one I really have to work on. Blaise Pascal stated, "If I had more time, I
would have written a shorter letter." This may not be the case for novelists, but
in business you should take the time to be concise. Don't burden every one of
your readers with unnecessary verbiage...and the time
it takes to consume it.

8. Be on time
If you've agreed to attend a meeting, you've agreed to be on time. Most meetings,
especially conference calls and webinars, usually begin 5 minutes late. This is to
allow for the late comers to arrive. I've been on a webinar with 120 people waiting
for 5 minutes to start. That's 10 hours of lost productivity. And if it’s your
meeting...start on time. Late arrivers are losers.

9. Mind the gap
If you work for one of those organizations that likely have people booked back-to-
back in meetings, schedule your meetings to begin at 5 past the hour...and
consider having it end 5 minutes before the half or top of the hour. This will allow
your attendees time to transition to their next engagement.

10. Cast light, not shadows
Remember the people around you and make sure they get recognized for the
value they bring. Don't stretch out to absorb all the light (praise). Reflect light to
help others grow.

11. Step up your story.
You are an amazing professional with a promising, but possibly misunderstood product.
Like your marketplace, your story and those of your customers are evolving. The
question is whether your day-to-day storytelling and messaging is reflective of the
amazing work you do.
For you to be remain successful and grow, your past journeys need to be combined with
new visionary journeys and stories that captivate mindshare and market share. To do
that they need to be shared in a way that motivates people to act.
This is all about MOVING PEOPLE.
And the best way to move people is with STORY!
“What can beat a great product? A better story.”
- Louis Richardson

12. Wishing you a prosperous and “Smarter Work” New Year!
Let me know if I can be of service to you, your teams or your
company.
louis richardson
corporate story coach and speaker
www.creativitycrisis.com
louisrichardson@yahoo.com
www.twitter.com/inter_vivos
http://about.me/louisrichardson
www.slideshare.net/louisrichardson
www.linkedin.com/in/louisrichardson
www.youtube.com/user/louisrichardsonjr