Become more efficient and effective

So, how do you achieve that? Well my good friend Derek Arden, known as the world’s best negotiator, says to work in 17 minute chunks.

Derek says that, “Because we are so short of time in today’s high speed age, set your smart phone timer for 17 minutes. In that 17 minute spell, accept no interruptions and focus 100% on that task. Put yourself under pressure to complete the task, no checking emails, no cups of coffee or other diversions.

At the end of that 17 minutes review what you have done, take a stretch from your computer or whatever you are working on and reward yourself with a few minutes break before setting off on the next 17 minute task. You will be amazed at what you can get done.

Why 17 minutes? Well TED talks are timed at approximately 17 minutes because the producers consider that is the amount of time that people can concentrate without interruption.

You might even try limiting meetings to 17 minutes. Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done. It can be I know as I do it often. When I was working with one company we had stand up meetings. That really does cut the wasted time down.

Sue, an accountant who lives in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, says the 17 minutes works for her. She commutes to Southampton on the hydrofoil each day. It takes 17 minutes. She confirms that she gets an amazing amount of work done in that enforced 17 minute commute.

Try it and see if it works for you. It works for me.”

If you want to hone your negotiating skills get Derek’s latest book “Win Win” to learn the secrets