The sun's shining outside, it seems that everyone who is anyone is on holiday.. and you still have a quota to meet. Emails give you the automated "out of office" reply, you're tempted to spend far too much time reading your friends and established contacts via social media.. then there's the phone.

Think about it: If your preferred contact is away from the office, who else does it make sense for you to contact? Their PA? Their closest colleague? Chances are you already have the answer and you're making a big excuse of ONE persons absence? The excuse can cost you for many reasons!