Instant messaging can be a useful tool within the office. But it is generally informal in nature and can also reduce productivity. How often has a discussion about something work$-$related quickly turned into a half$-$hour gossip session? Consider if you had a colleague who seems to have less work to do than you and who is always tempting you into a chat session during working hours. How can you manage this effectively without compromising the relationship between you and your colleague?

Five weeks ago you were promoted to senior administrative professional for the sales department. There are $25$ salespeople in the department, and you are having difficulty prioritizing your work. This morning, one of the salespeople mentioned to you, $$You never get my work done by the time I need it$.$ You are always doing work for Kristen and Meelad.$$ Kristen and Meelad do give you more work than the other salespeople, and you are aware that you$$ve spent much of your time doing their work. What can you do to ensure that you allocate a fair portion of your time to the other salespeople?