Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 5, 2010

He will have a quick conversation with a staff member and set up a meeting, but not tell me anything about it. That makes it difficult when I am supposed to be organizing his calendar, but since I am responsible to organize his time and in spite of my frustration, I have to make it work. Minute taking made easier.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JUNE 14, 2009

To-do lists I have to-do lists for the Board and Committee meetings and a to-do list for the Board Reception and Dinner. My favourite to-do list is a calendar timeline so I can see at a glance where I am at and what I need to do to get there. It is simply using an on-line calendar with space on each day to enter what needs to be done.

Agenda 100

Agenda Time Zones IAAP Calendars 100

Office Dynamics

JUNE 27, 2012

Bonus fix: Using a separate field indicator (“Flag for Follow-up”) is better than pre-fixing subjects with “AR”. In an organization that is a multicultural company, it’s easy to get surnames and first names mixed up. Pet peeve: Calendar invitations with attachments. People often send me calendar invites that include attachments.

Etiquette 100

Etiquette Filing Email Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 8, 2009

Secure the date and time in his or her calendar, taking into consideration travel time if outside the office. State the purpose of the meeting in the calendar appointment as well as who will be at the meeting (i.e. Meeting with Mr. Brown and Ms. If it is an internal meeting, has a meeting space been booked?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Calendars 100

Practically Perfect PA

OCTOBER 31, 2011

The train turned up on time, I managed to get a seat and was able to check my emails and calendar for the day ahead. I pick up a cup of tea on my way back to my desk. My Directors are all in a meeting so no chance to connect yet. Senior manager asks when one of my directors will be free.

Email 100

Email Phones Calendars Training 100

Practically Perfect PA

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

I also have a quick check over my emails and calendar for the day, I do have a few meetings today that I also need to attend. 0910 – So far so good, I have a cup of tea and have had the time to set up my computer, open the post and even say hello to my colleagues. 1630 – Another meeting to attend.

Email 100

Email Filing Networking Training 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 20, 2010

It works well when it is a co-worker who sits closest to you, but depending on how your office is set up that might not be possible. If it is a planned time off then you can meet with your buddy and give them any instructions or information they will need to handle in your absence and any contact names and numbers. 5, 2010 at 12 p.m.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 13, 2010

If it is a big project I use a calendar and write down all my required to-dos on the dates I need to get them done to make my deadline. If I am told that I should have it in the next few weeks, or can expect to receive it in a couple of months, that doesn’t really help me with my follow up as it is not a definite date.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 16, 2010

.© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 16 July, 2010 Guest Blog by Alexis Bonari: 10 Easy Ways to Check and Maximize Time Management Photo from Flickr: Public Domain It’s not always about giving the boss her money’s worth – sometimes, it just feels great to know that work time is being managed well.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 27, 2010

Some people in the office were trying to get the remote working as we had a PowerPoint presentation coming up and were calling it things like remote thingy , remote slide clicker, wireless mouse so I finally asked, "Does anyone know what the official name for that thing is?" EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct.

PowerPoint 100

PowerPoint Time Zones IAAP 2010 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 31, 2009

He takes about 12 steps, squats and rejoices in his accomplishment, then he gets up and walks another 12 steps and squats again to repeat the process. Schedule meetings with your boss regularly, but at the very least annually, to identify areas that need improvement and also for encouragement in areas you are doing well.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 19, 2009

When I receive an initial request for a meeting, I use a meeting form and write down the information I need: who is requesting the meeting, what is the purpose of the meeting, where it will be held and a phone number or an e-mail address and dates that are available. Minute taking made easier. 5, 2010 at 12 p.m.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 19, 2008

Another bring-forward and organizing tip my friend shared with me (that she picked up from another assistant along the way) is using two-fold folders, with inside pockets. My boss likes me to print his weekly calendar on Monday so he can see at a glance what he has for the week so I clip that to the front of the folder.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2008 IAAP Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 10, 2008

If that is not happening, schedule yourself in their calendar. If you do arrange to meet with them, be prepared with questions and information so they will see the benefit. You want to keep up to date on their working life and all they have to do. I work for 6 different managers as well a staff of another 25 or so.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2008 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 13, 2010

I take the bus to work and I often see people getting on a busy bus and then going through their backpack or purse looking for their bus tickets and holding up the line. I like to be prepared and I find life just works better for me at home, work and even on the bus, when I am organized and ready for whatever is coming up. no tickets.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 12, 2009

I started this blog to share the knowledge I had picked up over the years either from other administrative assistants, my bosses or from trial and error. Bring Forward System or Using Tasks in Outlook Have a system to follow up on items your boss has asked you to do or things you know you need to do. Lets enjoy our day together.©

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 10, 2010

Another time I was trying to find a full-serve gas station to fill up, but there was nothing to be found. It was expensive,but when I brought it home I had to do all the work to get it up and running. He loved it and I believe ended up doing his job better because of it. I remember when self-serve gas stations first started.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 10, 2010

EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct. Taking Effective Meeting Minutes ► August (3) Pass it on. Minute taking made easier. I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 28, 2009

EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct. Taking Effective Meeting Minutes ► August (3) Pass it on. Minute taking made easier. I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Gifts Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 1, 2010

One person can be great at software programs and know all sorts of tricks to get things done quickly and another might be excellent at organizing and managing their email account. EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct. Taking Effective Meeting Minutes ► August (3) Pass it on.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 31, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 31 January, 2009 Housecleaning in Word 2007: Customizing your Dictionary Something you should do every once in awhile is to clean up your dictionary in Word. I have the software at home, but havent gotten the gumption up to load it yet. EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct.

2007 100

2007 Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 13, 2010

I think Tasks is one of Outlooks best-kept secrets, but it shouldnt be and is a great way to follow up on items. If I send an email to a co-worker requesting information, I immediately drag it from my Sent items to my Tasks, set a reminder to follow up and write in the Subject line "Did I get this information". 5, 2010 at 12 p.m.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP PowerPoint Email 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 28, 2010

What a blast the last two weeks have been, but I dont think I could have taken any more late nights staying up to watch the Olympics in Eastern Standard Time. EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct. Taking Effective Meeting Minutes ► August (3) Pass it on. Minute taking made easier.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 31, 2009

EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct. Taking Effective Meeting Minutes ► August (3) Pass it on. Minute taking made easier. I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 7, 2010

A good tip if you flub up your voicemail is to press # and it should give you prompts to get out of it. EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct. Taking Effective Meeting Minutes ► August (3) Pass it on. Minute taking made easier. 5, 2010 at 12 p.m. Dealing in real time.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JUNE 4, 2010

It is frustrating to the rest of the team because they are trying to meet certain goals and when there is a problem it takes time away from the manager who has to deal with it, but also the whole team as they see the time ticking and production at a standstill. EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 22, 2009

EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct. Taking Effective Meeting Minutes ► August (3) Pass it on. Minute taking made easier. I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service?

Administrative Professionals 100

Administrative Professionals Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 23, 2010

EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct. Taking Effective Meeting Minutes ► August (3) Pass it on. Minute taking made easier. I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP AT&T Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 12, 2010

Holgate is the Executive Assistant to the President, she also reports to the Director of Human Resources and manages a staff of four. Lynn has organized strategic events such as the companys internal trade show, all-hands meetings, the annual awards banquet, internal events and leadership off-site meetings. 5, 2010 at 12 p.m.

2010 100

2010 Interviewing Time Zones IAAP 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 27, 2009

This time I came up with a site called Karens Linguistics Issues. EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct. Taking Effective Meeting Minutes ► August (3) Pass it on. Minute taking made easier. ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!"

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Google 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 22, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 23 August, 2009 Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!" So how do you word your follow-up e-mail so as not to come across as impatient? It is OK to follow up, but be nice.people have a lot on their plate and your request is probably not the only thing they have to do, so be understanding, but be persistent.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 21, 2009

If a conference comes up and they are looking for someone to do the registration, we can step in and do that or we can organize it from start to finish. Who better than the admins to come up with something that works. Sometimes scheduling meetings can be a headache with no end in sight trying to get all the parties together.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 9, 2010

I was in a meeting all day taking minutes and then had a side meeting scheduled at 4 that I had to take minutes at, but in this case the minutes had to be transcribed, printed and put in the meeting packages for the next day. EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 10, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 10 April, 2009 Keep your Inbox running on empty There are so many e-mails coming at us these days that e-mail management is very important. Of course what works for me will probably not apply to you so you need to set up folders that apply to your working situation, but the fewer the better.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones Administrative Professionals IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 5, 2009

I was at the cottage with a friend and she was cranky and started to get wound up about something to do with her husband. By the end of the call her husband had caught her crankiness and it ended up with them both being angry. She ended up calling her husband back and apologizing for her bad mood. Lets enjoy our day together.©

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 9, 2010

If I hear from the assistant I know I am going to get answers and the process of setting up a meeting will go smoothly, but should I try to develop a working relationship with them? EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct. Taking Effective Meeting Minutes ► August (3) Pass it on.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 27, 2008

I am busy, busy this week preparing to leave because I dont want to leave any loose ends and I want to cover off on anything that might come up in my absence. I also know that when I come back I will have to work twice as hard to make up for the time that I am away. EST Taking Effective Meeting Minutes Join me for a Webinar Oct.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays International 100