Juggling Out of Office Time

Business owners universally seem to be short of one critical resource, time. Your Out of Office messaging can be helpful when used appropriately.

There was a professional I knew years ago who always utilized their email out of office message, daily. They used it to let their email community know what was happening that day. It really was not an out of office message but a personal billboard. It was a curious way to use it. It was effective but perhaps overused. It did make an impression though and as long as they kept it up to date you would always know where the person was if you were attempting to reach them.

Most business people utilize the out of office messaging when they are on holidays, all day meetings, work conferences. This helps the recipient know that their message likely will not be addressed immediately. If you receive an out of office message, how do you react? That likely depends upon other information in the message.

Utilizing out of office messaging can be a valuable assistant to manage contact but it needs to be precise and informative. Letting your community know you are not in the office or by your computer is helpful. However, without further information, it can serve to frustrate your contacts more than anything else.

Be Bright Be Brief Be Gone is a saying a colleague likes to use. And it applies in how you phrase your out of office messaging.

First, let them know how long you will be unavailable. Second, let them know why you are not there to respond. Personal matter, all day meeting, work conference, or the much needed vacation or holiday. Third, provide them with direction in your absence. This is the critical piece. Without action to reach someone or allow them to gain resolution in your absence, you can create more frustration than anything else.

Alerting your business contacts to where you are, how long you are gone, why you are gone, and what to do in your out of office message are all critical components in executing a smooth contact strategy. It is a simple gesture of courtesy and action that will help further your client, vendor, advisor, staff, colleague interaction. Put it to work for you and use it to your advantage.

Juggling too many balls at once can be problematic for both dogs and business owners. Use this tool to help balance your work game.

Be well.