Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 2, 2018

It is always good to be prepared when meeting with your boss. The purpose of the meeting should be to ask questions, get direction, provide and/or receive information. I would suggest the following: If you have access to your boss's email Inbox, go through it as that will be a good place to start. As you go through the items, you will have questions about meetings he or she is attending, questions about events they may or not be attending, etc.

Phones 100

Phones Email UPS 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 16, 2018

When I create a table in Word I like to see the gridlines (the faint lines that tell you there is a line there, but if you print the document you won't see any lines). I like this especially for minute taking as I use a minute template document created by using a table. I prefer creating it this way because I don't want to be fussing with formatting while in a meeting.

Google 100

Google UPS 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 24, 2017

An easy way to remember when to use who or whom: If you can replace the word with “he” or “she,” use who. If you can replace it with “him” or “her,” use whom.

100

100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 25, 2017

I attended an event today on minute taking. Our organization set it up for Admin Professionals' Week. Unfortunately, my first impression of the speaker was not very good because she was dressed down and looked rather frumpy. I don't believe in judging a book by its cover, but I was amazed at how easily my mind went there and how I equated how she looked to what she had to say.

Clothes 100

Clothes Administrative Professionals Interviewing UPS 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 27, 2017

It is important to read other people's minutes. Especially from meetings that your boss may have something to do with. It can be beneficial for a number of reasons: It will give you a broader idea of what your boss is involved in and will help you assist him or her better; It will help you understand the business better, which will help you in taking your own minutes; It can give you pointers are how to minute better by looking at how they worded a sentence or handled a discussion.

Forms 100

Forms Learning 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 21, 2016

I have always had trouble knowing when to use the words 'then' or 'than'. Sometimes it is easy to figure out, but other times I struggle to figure it out. Well, today I came across a sentence where the person used 'then' and I was pretty sure it should have been 'than', but wasn't positive. Rhymes like '30 days have September', 'i' before 'e' except after 'c' (but there are exceptions), or what a school teacher I worked with taught me about when to use 'I' or 'me' in a sentence (if you can chang

Google 100

Google 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 15, 2016

Being an Executive Assistant is more than just a title. When you get to this level it is expected you will take on leadership responsibilities. I am in an Administrative Assistant role again and am really enjoying it, but having just finished my career as an Executive Assistant, I am appreciating the work that they do, but am glad to leave it for someone else.

Learning 100

Learning Management UPS 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 13, 2016

This summer I will be presenting at the AdminPro Forum 2016 in Florida and am really looking forward to it. Keynote speakers include Joan Burge, Lucy Brazier, Julie Perrine and Laura Stack. I have enjoyed the teachings of most of these ladies over the years and am thrilled to be participating with them and look forward to learning from them too. Recently on Facebook on the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) page they had a question on what would be the ideal gift fr

2016 100

2016 IAAP Administrative Professionals Budget 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 28, 2015

During the holidays it is important to have people in the office to keep things going. I like working during this time because you can get so much done that you normally don't have time to do. Here are some of the things I will be doing: Cleaning out my desk drawers - I just started this job a little over a month ago. The girl who was there before me was there for 9 years and before they hired me there were two temporary people sitting at my desk so you can imagine the desk drawers were very dis

Staples 100

Staples Holidays Agenda Filing 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 17, 2015

Starting a new job is more than just changing where you work. You have to learn a whole new way of doing things, from how to log onto the computer to filling out a purchase order form. There is a new work culture to adapt to and a new language of acronyms to try and sort out. Even though they can seem like small things, at the beginning you are trying to do your best to impress and can feel a bit helpless when the phone rings and you realize you don't know how to answer it.

Agenda 100

Agenda Sprint Medical 2015 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 5, 2015

In 2008 I took a job as an Executive Assistant and Corporate Secretary to a non-profit corporation. My daughter had just left home and I was a empty nester so I had time to try something different and put some time and effort into a new position. This position was certainly different than anything I had ever done. When I took the job, I had never taken minutes before and I had a Board of Directors' meeting in two months that I had to prepare for.

Retirement 100

Retirement Travel Negotiating Agenda 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 27, 2013

'I found this great site with basic filing rules for names. I found it very useful so I thought I''d share: [link] I''ve also added it to my sidebar under Filing for your future reference.

Filing 100

Filing 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 15, 2013

'Minute taking can seem scary at first but once you know what you need to record, you will get better at it over time. My next minute-taking webinar will be on May 31 at 1 p.m. EST and I will go over the basics of minute taking as well as the actual process so you will feel more confident in this role. This webinar is well suited for those who have never taken minutes but want to learn, beginners or those at an intermediate level.

Confidence 100

Confidence Learning Management UPS 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 30, 2013

I replied to this question on a Linked In forum so thought it was worth repeating here. If I was an employer, I would want to ask this question of any admin who was applying at my organization. Since it is almost second nature to most admins to be organized it is sometimes difficult to answer, but it is just for this reason that it needs to be asked.

Confidence 100

Confidence Interviewing Travel Email 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 14, 2013

If anyone missed my February minute-taking webinar, there is another one coming up on March 8th. If you are interested, please register here. In this session I want to provide tips and ideas on what to do before, during and after the meeting. I find there are three important things you need in order to take good minutes: You need to learn how to take the minutes and have a clear idea on what you need to record; You should have guidelines and checklists to ensure quality and so you won’t forget a

Confidence 100

Confidence Learning UPS 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 22, 2013

Please join me on February 7, 2013 at 1 p.m. EST for another minute-taking webinar. I enjoy giving these webinars and wish I could have had something like this when I first started. I have tried to put everything that I would have liked to know into the webinar. As many of you have found out, there is more to taking minutes than just taking the minutes.

2013 100

2013 Stress 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 22, 2012

Please join me for my next minute-taking webinar on November 13 at 1 p.m. EST. My goal for the webinar is to make minute taking as simple as possible. To do that you need to be prepared, informed and confident. If you have the first two, I guarantee you will feel more confident in your role as minute taker. I hope you can make it.

Confidence 100

Confidence Goals 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 4, 2012

I once worked with someone who had body language that you could read like a book. Stern looks, sad demeanor, very angry looking at times, sighing, interrupting while you were talking, especially when they were not in agreement, by harrumphing, sighing and rolling the eyes. It was disconcerting, but they didn't appear to be aware they were doing it. When I pointed it out, they said, "I can't help the way I look".

Cubicle 100

Cubicle Phones Calendars Skills 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 14, 2012

I have been involved in conducting a few interviews for admin jobs and here are two of the main things I have noticed about those who are unsuccessful: resumes are out of date and not relevant to the job applied for and the person was not prepared for the interview. When you go for an interview you have to keep in mind that they really do want to hire someone, but you have to make it worth their while to hire you.

Temping 100

Temping Mentoring Resume Interviewing 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 8, 2012

The admin role is a service-oriented position. Basically we are there to serve management - whether that be one executive or multiple managers and staff members. Managing our time can become more challenging when serving more than one person. Not that the volume is greater, because as someone who serves the CEO of our organization, I know that is not the case, but because it is coming from multiple sources it can seem overwhelming.

Management 100

Management Goals Email UPS 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 26, 2012

On May 15, I will be giving another webinar on effective minute taking. Click here for more information. I find one of the biggest hurdles to overcome in minute taking is the fear of taking them. Once you understand your purpose for being there and get a good grasp on what you need to capture, your confidence will increase. I hope you can join me.

2012 100

2012 Confidence 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 15, 2012

As in every aspect of life, relationships are two-way. Both parties have a responsibility and work to do to make it work. In the admin/boss working relationship however you do have an edge since it is you who schedules your executive’s calendar. Schedule yourself in for one-on-one meetings with your boss on a regular basis. Each situation will be different, but either short daily meetings or longer meetings once a week will work.

Confidence 100

Confidence Calendars Goals Learning 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was giving a webinar on minute-taking yesterday. There were a few questions that as I pondered last night, I wanted to give a more fulsome answer to today. Since some of you are on my blog, I thought this would be a good way to answer those questions. Do you need to record in the minutes when someone abstains from a vote?

Agenda 100

Agenda Finance Etiquette Legal 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 4, 2012

The first time my boss asked me to take minutes I gulped and the fear took over. I'm sure many of you can relate and know exactly what I mean. As I was walking to the boardroom I chattered nervously to him that I hadn't taken minutes since high school. It ended up being a ploy to get me to the boardroom for a baby shower - Surprise!!! Whew, I had dodged a bullet, but I knew this, I never wanted to take a job that required minute taking.

Confidence 100

Confidence Mentoring Learning Interviewing 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 31, 2012

I use the Ctrl keys so frequently that I almost forgot a few good ones. To open a new blank document in Word, press Ctrl n. To open a document, press Ctrl o. Ctrl F4 will close the document, Alt F4 will close the document and the program. If you haven't saved the document, it will prompt you to Save, Don't Save or Cancel. Or you can press Ctrl s before you close it.

PowerPoint 100

PowerPoint 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 22, 2012

As many of you know, I have been in administrative work for over thirty years. As much as I've enjoyed it, a lot of injuries come with our line of work. Recently, I was being assessed by a personal trainer at the gym and was complaining about my weak arms and she asked what profession I was in. As soon as I told her what I did for aliving she gave a knowing nod.

Ergonomics 100

Ergonomics Stress 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 15, 2012

[link].

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100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 26, 2011

I am not a lawyer and this is not considered legal advice in any way, but we recently had a lawyer come to speak to us about workplace harassment and bullying and it really cleared up a few things for me. As a supervisor I was especially interested because I don't want to cross the line, but because I am a supervisor I do have times where I need to speak to staff about various matters.

Assertiveness 100

Assertiveness Legal Social Media Policies 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 30, 2011

Have you ever worked for someone and they under-utilized you or just didn't seem to know how to work with an assistant? I once worked for a young boss and you could tell he wasn't quite sure what he could give me or what I was capable of doing. I had enough experience that I just started doing some of the things and when he saw I was ready, willing and able to do it, he gladly passed it on to me.

IAAP 100

IAAP Administrative Professionals 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 10, 2011

Office talk, or water cooler conversations, can be just that: what did you do on the weekend, what activities are your children participating in, what great new restaurant you tried, etc. etc., but what about when the conversation turns to gossip? Gossip can be vicious and in some cases even lead to disciplinary action or getting fired if you are the one doing it.

Gossip 100

Gossip Restaurants Forms Administrative Professionals 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 3, 2011

I work with a boss who is very self sufficient (in other words he could live without me, but chooses not to) and a friend of mine works with someone who wouldn't know what to do without her help. Which would you prefer? My job is unique in that I do my own work apart from my boss. He does his thing and I do mine. My work is generated by what he does, but I pretty well carry on with my duties on my own.

Confidence 100

Confidence Interviewing Learning Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 21, 2011

You know it's time to move on from your present job when you see these things happening: Lack of interest The challenge has gone out of the job and things are becoming routine and mundane. Lack of trust You notice that you are not getting the same respect as before and things you do are being questioned more often. Lack of fun When the fun is gone then it becomes work and that is no fun at all.

Interviewing 100

Interviewing Salary Resume Training 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 14, 2011

Sorry for the delay in getting the correct link to you with details about this webinar , but I have it now and you will find it on the side bar on the right.

2011 100

2011 Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 12, 2011

Reading, Reading and more Reading Expect to do a lot of reading the first week you are on the job. You will be given information about the organization, what benefits they have and forms that you need to fill out. Read and learn as much as possible. This may require you to do the reading on your own time or during break or your lunch hour. Meeting new people You will also be introduced to a lot of new people and told what they do.

Learning 100

Learning Stress Forms Phones 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 11, 2011

I just received this article written by Lynn Gaertner-Johnston of Syntax Training and wanted to pass it along to you as it has some great tips for holiday messaging. There is a link to her website and blog below and if you are interested you can subscribe to her e-newsletters here. ** When you are ready to send greetings to your customers, clients, employees, mentors, donors, vendors, service providers, and others who make you successful, apply these suggestions. 1.

Holidays 100

Holidays 2012 Gifts 2011 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

I've mentioned this before, but it is true -- proofreading is a lost art. I think people are over confident with spell check and forget that it can only do so much. Lists: I was working with someone and we were comparing a list to make sure we had all the right people with their names spelled right, correct title and address. The first thing I did was count the number of people on the list I was working from and then I counted them on the list I was getting the information from, it was out by th

Email 100

Email Filing Confidence Google 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 4, 2011

Whether you are an Executive Assistant or an Administrative Assistant, email management of our boss's account has become a big part of our jobs. But with that job comes responsibility and accountability. Depending on what your boss's title is we are often privy to some very confidential information. Our boss either has allowed us access because he or she is just overwhelmed with email and has no choice, but also because they trust that we will keep the information to ourselves and not spread inf

Email 100

Email Restaurants Travel Management 100