When I think of productivity tools for the modern business professional, one of the first that comes to mind is Outlook, Microsoft's insanely useful personal management program. Outlook began life as an email client, and it's still a great one; but in the past decade, it's grown into so much more. These days, Outlook is also one of the chief ways that savvy business professionals manage their time and maximize their accessibility, from scheduling their meetings to keeping track of their personal contacts. This past year we were blessed with a new version, the inventively-named Microsoft Outlook 2010. It's chockfull of interesting and practical features--some of them completely new, and others refinements of features introduced in earlier versions. In this article, I'll show you how to … [Read more...]
Microsoft Email: Preview Laura’s Outlook Training
Microsoft Outlook Virtual Training Products: This isn’t just computer training. It’s real-world, reality-based workflow processing that helps you actually be MORE productive with Outlook, instead of wasting hours every day playing with it. I estimate most people know 10-20% of the capacities of Outlook. Even you Outlook experts will be shocked by what you don’t know you don’t know! Now you can see a preview of all ten modules from Laura Stack's Outlook training series! Visit us here to watch the previews and sign up for your training course: https://theproductivitypro.com/s_outlook-virtual-training-products.html. Take your office productivity to a whole new level with Outlook! … [Read more...]
Microsoft Email: The Productivity Minute #18: Using Email Templates
Laura Stack talks about productivity with the Microsoft email program Outlook. Learn how to use signatures and email templates to save time and keystrokes. (C) 2009 Laura Stack. All rights reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]
Increasing Productivity: I spend waaaaay too much time on…
I asked readers to fill in the blank on our last monthly survey and received some great responses. There were tons of interesting answers, but it didn’t take long to start seeing some patterns. Read on for the seven most common responses (and what you can do about them). 1. E-mail. Let’s face it. E-mail can be a phenomenal productivity tool, but it will eat your day alive if you let it. Lots of people complain that their overflowing inbox is beyond their control, but here are three steps you CAN take to start getting a handle on it right away: Do you keep one eye on your inbox all day long? What does that do to your productivity? If you drop everything and attend to every e-mail that comes in throughout the day, you are derailing your productivity, over and over again. Not … [Read more...]
Online learning library of Microsoft Outlook training videos with Laura Stack
With email being such a huge productivity drain right now, I created a brand-new online video learning library to conduct Microsoft Outlook training virtually. (I am a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist in Outlook.) The series includes ten 1-hour modules of online self-paced training. You can watch these streaming videos from the privacy of your own office, from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection. Each flash video includes a detailed workbook with screen shots, so you can repeat on your Outlook. Microsoft online video learning library with Laura Stack: Module 1: Customizing Your Outlook Module 2: Inbox/Outbox/Sent Items/Drafts Module 3: Tasks Module 4: Calendar Module 5: Notes and Journal Module 6: Contacts Module 7: Time Savers Module 8: Advanced E-mail … [Read more...]
Laura Stack receives the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) in Outlook 2007 credential
The Productivity Pro(R), Inc. is delighted to announce that Laura Stack has received the Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) in Outlook 2007 credential. A Microsoft Business Certification shows employers that you have the technical skills to solve real-world problems by using advanced features of Microsoft Office programs. Not only did she pass, but the test administrator remarked that Laura's test results were the closest to a perfect score she had ever seen on the exam. The Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) credential is a globally recognized standard that validates skills with using the 2007 Microsoft Office system and meets the demand for the most up-to-date skills on the latest technologies from Microsoft. Candidates who successfully complete the … [Read more...]
Microsoft Email: The Productivity Minute #12: Curing the “Reply to All” Sickness
Don't you hate it when someone sends an email to 15 people asking for input and someone hits "Reply to All" and creates a huge volley of 47 messages later? AAAAAAH! In this episode, Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro(R), gives three better ways to handle email when you need to get ideas from a group of people. (C) 2009 Laura Stack. All rights reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]
Microsoft Outlook virtual training series announced with Laura Stack
Our first virtual Microsoft Outlook webinar series was such a huge success that we're doing it again! The new series begins May 22, 2009 with Microsoft Certified Specialist Laura Stack. I’m going to present 10 modules covering various aspects of Outlook, step-by-step. This isn’t just computer training. It’s real-world, reality-based workflow processing that helps you actually be MORE productive with Outlook, instead of wasting hours every day playing with it. I will share my desktop and show my computer screen LIVE using my actual Microsoft Outlook software. This is not PowerPoint! It is a real-time demonstration. Even you Outlook experts will be shocked by what you don’t know you don’t know! Each webinar is very affordable at $39 per person. If you attend all ten, the price is … [Read more...]
Microsoft Outlook Virtual Training with Laura Stack
Announcing The Productivity Pro® Microsoft Outlook virtual training series! Attend “live” training with Laura Stack, a Microsoft Certified Specialist in Outlook, from the privacy of your home or office. I’m going to present ten modules covering various aspects of Outlook step-by-step. This isn’t just computer training. It’s real-world, reality-based workflow processing that helps you actually be MORE productive with Outlook, instead of wasting hours every day playing with it. I estimate most people know 10-20% of the capacities of Outlook. Even if you think you’re an “expert,” you’ll be shocked by what you don’t know you don’t know. I’m making each one-hour webinar very affordable at $39 per person. If you attend all ten, the price is discounted to $349 per person. If for some reason you … [Read more...]
The Productivity Minute #8: Channels of Communication and Unproductive Email
Email, voicemail, and conference calls have revolutionized how we communicate in corporate America and around the globe. In today’s fast-paced business environment, companies depend on technology to link virtual teams across cities, states, and countries. Yet most companies don’t provide training on how to productively communicate with these resources. Whenever I find myself on the receiving end of an email volley, in which an email has repeatedly gone back and forth, I will simply pick up the phone and end it right there. Some people don’t put enough thought into which technology they will select to effectively communicate their message. For any given purpose, one channel (or medium) will be more effective than another. (C) 2009 Laura Stack. All rights … [Read more...]
