(c)2003 by Ann Rusnak

Do you check your email first thing in morning before doing anything else and make your cup of coffee while it's downloading?

It is last thing you do before going to bed?

Do you check you email at least a thousand times during day?

When you hear words, "You Got Mail" does your heart flutter and your adrenaline gets going?

Do you sign-up for every ezine, report, mini-course but rarely read them?

If you don't check your email for one day does it send you into a panic?

Is some of your email growing mold because it's been in your inbox too long?

Okay let's face it...email is addicting...boy does it pile up fast!

You started out innocently, saving a couple of emails, signing up for a few things. Next thing you know... if all that email in your inbox was in paper format, there is probably enough to stack up and climb to moon.

Email is both and blessing and a curse. During our monthly support calls for "Too Busy To Get Anything Done", number one question is "How do deal with email effectively?"

Here are 5 tips to help to you gain control over your inbox.

1. Don't have your email open all day. Close it. You won't be tempted to stop what you are doing when you hear those 3 words, "You Got Mail."

2. Set aside designated time slots to open and answer email. I usually reserve 2 hours but I break it up during day into 4 half hour segments. Some days I need full 2 hours,other days I don't. I'll use that extra time to clean out folders.

Every day new managers are hired or promoted because of "what they know". When they fail to thrive it's because of "who they are" or "how they go about getting things done". While there are many factors that contribute to these successes or failures, bottom line is that responsibility falls on shoulders of hiring manager. As a hiring manager, your credibility and reputation are on line.

Some companies have a series of training sessions in place for new managers. That's simply NOT enough! Every hiring manager needs a PLAN in place for minimizing risk and increasing chances of success for new manager. Here are some topics to get you started: