Silver Clipboard: Time Management Tips and Personal Productivity Tools

How many times have you spoken to a friend on the phone and promised to do something for them (like get the title of a book or movie) only to forget after the call is over? Too many times.

Keeping a simple call log can save you time, money and frustration while improving other peoples’ image of you as an organized person. Here’s how:

Never start or receive a phone call without getting out your pocket notebook and pen. This is about reducing resistance – you want that notebook at the ready to capture information. If it’s in your back pocket, you’ll think, ‘oh, I’ll take it out later’ and you won’t. Your mind is not a storage box, keep it empty. Write down those small favors for your friends and family immediately while on the phone. You will be amazed how impressed people are when you get back to them on things they casually mentioned. (Remember, people are lists too.)

The call log is also an invaluable tool when you’re on the phone with a company. How often has a company promised to refund a disputed charge, only to never actually do it? It’s not because they forgot, it’s because it’s part of their business plan. Companies know that their customers forget to check on promised refunds. It’s intentional when they don’t refund you because your forgetfulness is their revenue stream.

If the company you’re talking to offers you a discount or refund, write down who you spoke with, the discount amount, and the date. If and when you have to call back, start your conversation with “Hi, I spoke to Linda Griffin on February 2nd and she promised me a discount of 10% on this month’s bill”. Companies don’t normally mess with customers who are organized and keep track of things. Without fail, every time I’ve called a company and mentioned specific people and dates there is no argument, only an apology and a quick follow through.

As with everything else in your pocket notebook be sure to capture any notes from your calls during your weekly review and add them to any necessary to-do lists.

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Header photograph by: C y r i l l i c u s