A Dozen Tips for Efficient Appointments

Have you ever arrived at an appointment to find that you have been stood up? Or the person with whom you were meeting didn't do what was necessary to make the appointment worthwhile? When appointments are thwarted, it is harder for you to reach your goals in a timely manner. Here are a few tips to help make your appointments most efficient:

1. Know the objective of the appointment before you agree to it.

2. Ask whether the appointment might be accomplished over the phone or via email, rather than meeting face-to-face, saving time.

3. Create or ask for an agenda for the appointment.

4. Determine beginning and ending times for the appointment.

5. Complete any required work beforehand.

6. Call the day before to confirm the appointment, checking to make sure the person with whom you are meeting has completed any necessary work required for the appointment. If not, reschedule the appointment.

7. Start the appointment on time. Be on time to appointments elsewhere. Carry with you something to do if you are kept waiting.

8. Turn off your cell phone and prevent other interruptions during your appointment. It shows respect for the other person’s time and for the importance of the appointment.

9. Set an alarm on your PDA, phone, or watch to signal the ending time of the appointment.

10. Plan appointments one after another, if possible, to prevent short, unproductive times between appointments.

11. Consider having appointments while standing. People are more efficient if they are not sitting in a comfortable chair.

12. If you and the person with whom you need to meet attend the same event, schedule your appointment before or after the event or during a break to eliminate extra travel time.

Appointments need to contribute toward your goals. Following the tips above will increase your efficiency in reaching those goals.

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