Make it impossible to misunderstand.

Want to save 30 minutes per day? Do this. Don’t do that.

How many times do you go back and forth about the simplest things? Even making an appointment to talk or meet with someone. It usually goes something like this:

A: “I’d love to connect by phone. How’s next week?”
B: “Sounds great. Anytime is good.”
A: “Perfect. Maybe Tuesday?”
B: “Sure, Tuesday is fine.”
A: “Great, 10 AM?”
B: “Ooh, not then. Maybe 3 PM?”
A: “Hmm, morning is actually better. Can you not do morning?”
B: “Not really.”
A: “How about Wednesday?”

I must stop. I’m driving myself crazy and I’m arranging a fake appointment with myself. Notice that this is already 9 emails (or texts) and we still don’t have a time–or even a day. Let’s cut it down to two emails:

1. A: “Let’s talk next week, my number is 415-293-3829, I have your number so I will call you. Please choose one of these times below or if none of these times work, please send me 3 times that work for you.
   1.) Mon from 10:00 to 10:30
   2.) Mon from 3:30 to 4:00
   3.) Tue from 11:00 to 11:30
2. “Awesome. Mon from 3:30 to 4:00 is perfect. Talk then!”

Done? Right? If you want to get fancy, you can use an automated system that even integrated with your online calendar.

In other words, anticipate questions and answer them.

1. Offer clear options. Don’t: ask, “How about early next week?”
2. Anticipate. Don’t: leave any room for doubt. Think about it from their perspective, what questions might they have? Answer them.
3. Be assertive. Don’t: wiffle waffle and wonder. These are the times you’re available and that’s it.

You’re a busy person and your time is important to you. Uh, right?