PROBLEM:

I recently started leading the Small Business Special Interest Group for my industry association, the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). [Yes there is such an organization!]

One of my first tasks was to establish a regular teleconference call with 20 people from across the world. How was I going to quickly and easily get input from everyone about when they could meet? I went about it the old fashioned way. I checked first to see when I was available. (Rule #1 – when you are the Leader it must be convenient for you!) Then I emailed out my options to the group and manually compiled the results. What a hassle! I did have better things to do with my time.

SOLUTION:

I should have used a great FREE online tool called Doodle.com.

You create a poll using your optional times to meet. Doodle generates a link for the poll. You send the link out to everyone in an email. Your group members respond to the poll and Doodle compiles the results for you. (Be sure to create a free account so it will store your results.)

You are done without a million email’s clogging up your inbox! What a simple to use tool. I got smart my second time around. I wanted to get feedback from my group on a training program, so I used Doodle to accept and compile the results. Fabulous! I estimate I saved about 2 hours or more of work plus I have the information I need much sooner.

Let me know what you think about the tool or any others like it.

Keep moving forward…