Better communication at work

Dear Heloise: I wanted to share some things I’ve learned to be more productive at work:

■ When I make a mistake (which we all do) and someone calls me out on it, instead of saying: “I’m sorry; I made a mistake. I completely missed that!” I now say: “Good catch! I’ll update the file. Thanks for letting me know.”

■ When scheduling an appointment, instead of saying, “Are you available at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.?” I’ll ask, “When are you available?”

■ If it takes me a while to answer an email I don’t say, “I’m sorry for the delay.” I instead say, “Thanks for your patience.”

■ If I’m trying to get someone to understand a work concept, I’ll ask, “Do you have any questions?” I no longer ask, “Does that make sense?”

Fine points and subtle differences, but these hints have helped me be more productive and confident at work. — Dianne W. in Texas

Tech Talk Tuesday

Dear Readers: Here’s a hint to keep your phone contacts organized. When saving a contact, enter their name, address, title and the company they work for.

Saves time by putting all the information you need about a contact in one location. — Heloise

Wire Your Own Mask

Dear Heloise: I read your advice about how to add a wire to a mask by using a pipe cleaner. I use a twist-tie, the kind that grocery stores provide for tying vegetable bags.

I just cut a tiny hole in the top center of the mask, slip in the twist-tie, and use a few stitches to sew it in and close the hole. — Rhona B., Silver Spring, Md.