The best advice for mastering multi-tasking comes from executives on the front lines. Here’s a cheat sheet with six of their lessons for moments when the workday gets a little too hectic.

1. One size does not fit all. Cingular Wireless CEO Stephen Carter handles almost every incoming e-mail in real time; Sun Microsystems EVP Marissa Peterson checks e-mail just twice a day. When it comes to multi-tasking, no single solution works for everyone. Pick the tactic that’s best for you.

2. Paper piles only grow. When you get a paper report or memo, deal with it, then file it or hand it off. Piles of paper make for more work.

3. Heading to a meeting? Go unplugged. When you meet with someone, you’re using a nonrenewable resource: your time. Don’t let cell phone or pager interruptions waste it.

4. The next killer business app? Instant messaging. IM is faster than e-mail and just as inclusive. Ultimately, its beauty lies in its simplicity. Think of it as the online equivalent of an elevator conversation.

5. Delegate: It’s the ultimate time-saver. Investing in frequent communications with your staff — lunch meetings, daily e-mails — yields big dividends. Your staff members can’t lighten your load if they’re out of the loop.

6. Working in hard-to-reach territories? Voice-mail it. Voice mail is more dependable than e-mail and better for keeping globe-trotting executives connected with the home team.