Who hasn’t been stuck on the phone listening, ad nauseaum, to the latest troubles of a “favorite” client? Have you ever wished that you could communicate with your staff or another attorney while listening?

Instant Messaging

Try one of the instant messenger programs available from AOL/Netscape, Microsoft and Alta Vista, among others. These nifty little programs allow real-time two-way typed communications and, unlike email, messages show up instantly on the recipient’s desktop.

Get Help

While you hunker down for the long haul you could IM (Instant Message) your assistant asking him or her to bring you lunch and a bedpan, or even bail you out by knocking loudly on your door and announcing that the Senator is waiting to see you.

Maintain Your Terrorist Image

Do things slow down when your staff knows you are on one of these calls and just how long it is likely to last? Does the atmosphere outside your office become party-like? Let them know that while you may have a phone glued to your ear, you still have ten fingers, freshly packed and ready to type. Send IM assignments, questions about previous assignments, demands for staying late and other orders to make sure they know the party’s over.

Caveat

Remember, however, that Instant Messaging uses the Internet and is no more secure than unencrypted email. In other words, the same rules apply as with email – don’t say anything that you wouldn’t want repeated on CNN.

Of course, you could always use Instant Messaging to get some real work done.

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  © 2001, Jim Schoenberger