InsideTech

I agree with everything here (they should include forums as a timewaster) except #11. F**k that, I take a smoke break every hour to hour-and-a-half *unless* I happen to be really into a project or troubleshooting an emergency situation.

When I quit smoking, I'll make it a short walk around the parking lot. Anyone who works at an intensely mind-straining task like development or systems administration needs to give their brain (and their butt) a break regularly.

As I read many of the "articles" on this web site, the first thing that often comes to mind, is who is the person writing it? What is their experience on the subject?

Who is Tania Khadder? Have they ever managed a department? Worked on a help desk?

IMHO, e-mail is one of the best time savers I have. How long does it take to write, "Regarding my order, what's the status?" or "still waiting for that information you promised me last week?" While I am on hold wanting for someone to pickup, I can send out a dozen short e-mails. And if half of them produce an answer, which they usually do, that saves me from a lot of dialing, and uses wasted time on hold productively.

The article was pretty much a waste of time, although I read it as I ate lunch. Best advice in this whole article was by one of the posters who stated, "if there is no agenda, there is no meeting" Amen to that! A productive meeting is a good thing, and often necessary. But when someone calls a meeting, and starts it with, "so what's new with you guys" Yikes, it's all over from there.

--> Top 10 lists that require a click for each number to increase impressions & ad revenue.
---> Yep, thought that was pretty funny as well!

I wonder if taking time to read this Time Waster's piece at work is considered a time waster? Oh wait, plus read the comments, make a comment, and...like fishandchips below said, click 11 links to read each one. ;-|

gud one

Nothing new or surprising in the article regarding time wasters and nothing particularly creative or groundbreaking regarding how to deal with them.

Let me add one - wasting time on hold awaiting for service. If "your call is important to us", they wouldn't put you on hold and then route you to an offshore call center with reps that a) can't speak English, b) run you through a worthless script that doesn't apply to your problem, c) don't have the skills to fix your problem, d) create more serious problems attempting to fix your problem and e) cut you off to start the cycle all over again because they can't properly forward your call to someone who can actually help.

I agree about IM. We had business ICQ in a previous job that was vital and cost saving to contact our coworkers in a different state. We didnt have personal IM, and firewalls kept us from a lot of inappropriate internet action. In another previous job not too long ago at a well known company, I got a kick out of the fact that a lot of people would just skip or not show up at meetings (because there were so many), and a lot of people really condoned the behavior. However there is nothing worse than a lunch meeting where you do not get fed (if you really want to tick off your employees). Also there needs to be a number 12 here, and that would be inexperienced or unqualified managers and supervisors. I worked in a situation that could be explained by culprits 5 or 6 but in my case they could be directly linked to the supervisor I had at that time.

Agreed with MSTinPA. IM works, when e-mail and meetings cannot. Issues can be resolved immediately. Just don't overuse the IM.

You forgot to include Selective Neglect for #6. First you prioritize what needs to get done, neglect the rest.