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. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. I have always been a believer in sharing ideas and have received my best education from other assistants.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 16, 2010

The person sending out the request for the meeting and asking for dates would usually be considered the meeting organizer. If you are not the organizer, you still have a responsibility to provide available dates in a timely manner, set a reminder to make sure there is an agenda and if there isnt, email to ask for one.

Agenda 100

Agenda Time Zones International IAAP 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 17, 2008

Here are the top qualities that an assistant must have: Be organized. Can I say that again – BE ORGANIZED! An assistant’s job is to organize the boss and in order to do that we must be organized ourselves. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. Be one step ahead of your boss.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones Filing IAAP 2008 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 19, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 19 December, 2009 Meetings Plus: Taking them offline I organize a lot of meetings in a day, week, month; heck, even into next year. There are a lot of good organizing tricks out there and whenever I find one that works, I pounce on it and it becomes something I cant work without. 5, 2010 at 12 p.m.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 13, 2008

When I interview for a job I interview the person interviewing me and try to get a feel for whether we will work well together. Good boss, bad boss On one interview I went on, when I met the two men who would be interviewing me, I met the first one and thought, "OK, so he seems like a nice man and I could work with him."

Time Zones 100

Time Zones Interviewing IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 10, 2009

Would you take a job just to get your foot in the door of an organization you really wanted to work for, even if it was a position that you didnt want to make a career out of? You should stay in the position for long enough to make what youve learned stick to be fair to yourself and the organization who hired you.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 8, 2009

What dates and times does he or she have available (keeping in mind time zones for away meetings)? Secure the date and time in his or her calendar, taking into consideration travel time if outside the office. Follow up with the meeting organizer to request agenda and/or meeting materials, pre-reading, etc.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 23, 2010

Another office raised almost $1,000 in a fundraising effort they organized. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. Building Relationships one Assistant at a Time ► April (2) Keeping focussed in a busy environment When your boss arranges meetings behind your back. He raised over $1,000.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP AT&T 2010 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 14, 2009

Another time I wanted to try a career in the travel business. I have become familiar with time zones, airport codes and international holidays to avoid. I love the planning, organizing and running around that goes into bringing a conference from a thought to a successful event. You couldnt survive if you werent.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 16, 2010

Manage: Consider these points as you organize your workload. It reduces confusion by improving organization and leaves your work space clean. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. Put the least important one on the bottom and the most urgent on top. Check: Are you prioritizing tasks correctly?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 6, 2008

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 6 September, 2008 Going Checklist Crazy I am organizing a Board meeting and I have checklists and to-do lists coming out of my ears. Being organized helps de-clutter any task and makes it more manageable and doable. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. Why I love my job?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 10, 2008

The argument could be said that the role of the assistant is to assist and keep your boss organized so we shouldnt complain when we have to do it. I have found the best way to cope is to keep yourself organized. Keep an organized filing system and file list. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2008 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 9, 2010

If I deal with someone and can see that they have organized something well, I will make sure to ask them about it. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. Building Relationships one Assistant at a Time ► April (2) Keeping focussed in a busy environment When your boss arranges meetings behind your back.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 17, 2010

I went to my boss with my newfound knowledge and she arranged to get me some new technology to make transcribing voicemails less time consuming. Now that I knew what was taking the time, I could do something about it and make adjustments to organize my day better. Keep your desk organized with a place for everything.

Environment 100

Environment Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 10, 2009

I find the best way for me to keep my Inbox organized is to immediately deal with the e-mail when it arrives. I never have more than four or five e-mails in my Inbox for any length of time. Here are five buts you can do without: But I dont have time! Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones Administrative Professionals IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 8, 2009

The same applies if you have a job interview or a new challenge at work. Is everything organized and in the proper place so when you need it you can just grab it? Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. It puts you in the right frame of mind for what you are doing and then you can get down to business.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 11, 2009

That is why I suggest when you go to an interview you should ask questions and find out exactly what “providing administrative support&# means. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. They dont want to change their career and that is all right too. Let your fingers do the walking: Quick keyboard sh.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 4, 2008

The head of your organization can often set the tone for how the rest of the office functions. Everyone helping each other and working together to achieve the goals of the organization. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. To work effectively, I have always found working as a team is the best working situation.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 4, 2009

Make the interview count and ask the right questions. Ask yourself what things really matter to you and ask questions to bring those things up in the interview. It saves your boss asking if you got it done and in time they will not ask because they will just know you have handled it. Hire smart! Its worth trying to work it out.

Management 100

Management Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 19, 2008

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 19 September, 2008 Using a Bring-Forward System to Help Organize Your Boss Of all the articles I have written, the one I wrote on the bring-forward system by far gets the most views. As an Executive Assistant to a busy CEO, I have to organize my boss and I needed a bring-forward system to meet his needs.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2008 IAAP Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 7, 2009

I recently received an e-newsletter from Jane Watson regarding Acronyms and Initialisms , which I thought was timely and wanted to share with you. Each organization we work for will have their own acronyms that we have to get familiar with fairly quickly if you want to know what they are talking about. Oh where or where is my password?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones ASAP IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 13, 2008

The office party can be a good time for some networking with the different people in your organization. RSVP If you are not able to attend the party, it is always a good idea to let the organizer know and your boss. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. So why bother going? Oh where or where is my password?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 29, 2008

Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. Building Relationships one Assistant at a Time ► April (2) Keeping focussed in a busy environment When your boss arranges meetings behind your back. Using a Bring-Forward System to Help Organize Your. Let your fingers do the walking: Quick keyboard sh. Why I love my job?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 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. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. Our job is not just one thing, but many different tasks and it changes every day. Oh where or where is my password?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 11, 2009

Perhaps, you are reading this and thinking some of these things can be a big time commitment. Check out some of the sites and organizations and see which you would find to be most useful. Ask yourself if you have the time to go to a meeting once a month. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. I understand!

IAAP 100

IAAP Time Zones Administrative Professionals International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

I also had a reception to organize and I am never sure how many appetizers to order for everyone and normally go by what the hotel staff tell me I need, but I noticed there is always so much food left over that I tried something different this time. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Negotiating International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 5, 2009

I find talking it over with a friend can be a good way to organize your thoughts. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. Building Relationships one Assistant at a Time ► April (2) Keeping focussed in a busy environment When your boss arranges meetings behind your back. Oh where or where is my password?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 13, 2009

In some organizations raises are tied to how well you do and it is also a record that is kept on your personnel file. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. Building Relationships one Assistant at a Time ► April (2) Keeping focussed in a busy environment When your boss arranges meetings behind your back.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 8, 2009

That is a good time to recognize assistants for all that they do. Imagine, if we had assistants at home to pay the bills, do the budget, organize dinners, answer our calls and follow up with reminders -- it is starting to sound pretty good. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. Oh where or where is my password?

Administrative Professionals 100

Administrative Professionals Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 15, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 15 March, 2009 When you need it later: The Bring-Forward System My boss likes me to keep him organized and the way I do that is to have a system to bring forward items, which I then bring to his attention when he needs to see it. The system I use is quite simple and has been around for a long time.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 24, 2009

Send a Meeting Request, without getting replies You know how it is when you send a meeting request to the whole organization and then get 40 replies in your Inbox. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. There is little chance that someone will miss that and double book them. To do so choose Invite Attendees.

2007 100

2007 Time Zones IAAP 2003 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 29, 2009

Going through some major organizing and filing here at our office and this is another 'a propos' topic that hits home. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat. Building Relationships one Assistant at a Time ► April (2) Keeping focussed in a busy environment When your boss arranges meetings behind your back.

Management 100

Management Time Zones IAAP 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 12, 2009

If the letterhead has the name of the organization on it you do not have to repeat it again under the name and title, unless that is your boss’s preference. Some organizations like you to list the attachments, i.e. Enclosure: 2008 Annual Report. As you have discovered half the battle is getting organized.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 31, 2009

I bet they never asked you that question at a job interview). This of course prompted me to write the following thought of the day on my blog, "The location of your Office Suggestion Box can give you a good idea of how important it is to your organization. Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgat.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2010 IAAP International 100