On the Spot 3-1-2001

Meetings & Conventions: Short Cuts March 2001

March 2001

Short Cuts:
On the SpotWhat’s the most frustrating part of your workday?

“It’s not something I do every day, but checking contracts is very time-consuming and a bit of a chore. It is such a critical part of what meeting planners do, as every contract is different, but finding a couple of quiet hours to really analyze one and see what effect it will have on my group is very difficult. Often, I end up taking the contracts home.”
Diane Watanabe
Senior Conference Planner
Financial Executives International
Morristown, N.J.

“The beginning of the day can be very slow. Although essential, sometimes just checking voice mail and e-mail messages can take more than an hour, making it harder to get to that day’s ‘must-do’ list of tasks. The positive side is that this technology creates a better, quicker flow of information, but still, those slow starts in the a.m. can be frustrating.”
Jule Uppfolk, CMP
Meeting Planner
Meeting Management Solutions Inc.
Chicago, Ill.

“I get frustrated with any person, e-mail or telephone call that wastes time, especially when people stop by my office and can see that I am busy. To maintain a cordial office, though, often it is necessary to be polite and chat for a while.”
Kathleen Zwart
Management Development Specialist
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida Inc.
Jacksonville, Fla.