Week of March 29-Where do you spend the most time?

[andream]

On a weekly basis where do you spend most of your time? Are you chasing airline reservations, answering E-Mail or merely contemplating the fate of the corporate universe? Where does your time go in any given week?

Of course the answers will be different in each office in whatever country of the world you're reporting in from, but it would be interesting to know where you think you spend the most time on your job.  Which tasks take you the longest or do you attempt the most often in a typical week?

Do Tell...
Andrea

[JessW]

I plead the 5th (which yes I know strictly doesn't apply here in London, but I don't care) on the grounds that if my bosses found out I 'hide' here with the illusion of debt collecting (my second most time consuming chore) they may catch on!

Jess

[gee4]

Mostly I would say following up emails, organising and scheduling meetings and also taking time out to keep up with you guys!

G

[chris68]

Air travel, most definetly.

Chris68
Peer Moderator

[beaintheuk]

I would say travel and emails.

B

[spitfire78]

ugh - telephone - sometimes I feel like a glorified switchboard operator!

[dedlered]

Sales Metrics -  Sometimes my head spins with so many numbers

Laura
Peer Moderator

[jahdra]

The past month? Waiting for Outlook to synch, so I can look at bossie's schedule, only to be told "the set of folders could not be opened." It's very embarrassing!

[sobriquetnic]

Hi Andrea

Following up on emails and telephone calls probably.  We use email for absolutely everything now so it is the main way that work comes in.....and then hopefully goes out again!

I also spend a lot of time with my boss.  He not only dictates but likes to chat things through as well.......which I try to take as a compliment in the way that he finds me easy to talk to and perhaps values my opinion.  However, it can be pretty time consuming!

All the best,
Nicola.

[ozbound]

Outside contemplating String Theory (ha ha--don't I wish, on a beautiful day like this!)

Actually, it seems I've been spending a great deal of time in the Copy Room (or so my coworkers tell me!) The rest of the time I'm at my desk contemplating such modest mysteries as how to access that un-clickable picture in a Word document!

[Cozwaz]

This last week most of my time seems to have been devoted to selling houses and apartments, and its been an excellent week. This week....well who knows - every weeks is different in my job!

S

PS Is there a true definition of a PA???!!!!

[radaro]

Since my employer put me in this temporary (6 month term) holding pattern, I'm spending most of my day in the file room. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[countrigal]

I seem to be spending most of my time in worthless meetings.  These are meetings that really don't involve me, that I gain nothing from (not even networking, as I can network with the members in other capacities), and never get anything done anyway.  If I wasn't in these worthless meetings, then I'd spend most of my time doing tort claim "stuff" such as reviewing records, typing letters to involved providers, requesting secondary reviews, etc.  Now that is a varied and fun workload, so why am I spending my time in these meetings??

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[peana]

Things are pretty varied here, thank goodness!  Loads of meetings and minute taking, regular diary management for about a dozen of the team, working on our intranet, looking after our disaster recovery plan and making sure it's current, organising the internal PA group, making sure everyone in the team has met their deadlines, preparing presentations, etc.... I've even waited at bossie's flat to let in the plumber, organised trips to the theatre for him and his wife, and bought my own xmas pressie!  My newest task is to run daily customer satisfaction surveys to ensure 'the business' are happy with the service we (IT) deliver to them.  I don't often have time to get bored!

I agree with CG about meetings that don't achieve anything, but luckily my present company are pretty good at keeping to the point.  Bossie instigated a list of 'crimes' to keep meetings on track (offenders have a £2 fine which either goes to charity or to the xmas party).  It works pretty well - the following are all offences:
+ being late
+ phones ringing / vibrating
+ amnesia
+ war stories
+ personal attacks
+ scowling
+ lack of contribution
+ fiddling with electronic equipment
+ gender solidarity
+ hogging the strike
If there is no way you can get out of the meetings, maybe a similar system could help shorten them?

[countrigal]

I wish.  Unfortunately, I work for the government, who seems to thrive on meetings and work under the impression that unless you're in meetings you have no job or any reason for being at work.  So we literally have meetings to discuss setting up meetings to arrange other meetings.  Waste of time!!!  And members see it, so folks do the bare minimum to get through these meetings, but the chairs of the meetings are 'important' because they are chairing a committee.  When we streamlines our committee structure, a number of folks came to me personally and complained because their committee or team was disbanded or absorbed into another one.  The new streamlined structure lasted all of 1 month before politics took over once more and everyone has their own meeting or team or committee, which each requires 10-15 members.  My thought?  Stop the insanity!!!

CountriGal
Peer Moderator