Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 17, 2010

If you have to answer the phone, deal with an email or attend to something for your boss, do so, as that is the nature of the admin job -- multi-tasking, but once you have done it, go right back to your to-do list, re-focus and continue what you were doing. Having a to-do list can be a life saver. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Environment 100

Environment Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

Click on that and you will find a wealth of templates from a resume, cover letter, minutes, agenda and many others. Whoever had the idea to put the templates on their site should pat themselves on the back. Once you log on click on the tab Productivity and you will see on the right Templates. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 10, 2009

Of course before I recommend anything I try it out so I picked up the phone and it asked me what I was looking for and what city and province. I chose details and was given the street address and phone number and I still had the option of having my call put through to the store number. You can use google to get similar information.

Google 100

Google Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 16, 2010

Check: Are phone calls planned? For each one, write down what you hope to accomplish with the phone call to help you stay focused. It automatically updates when I use an office product, and I can manually enter stop/start times for phone calls, meetings, face to faces, etc. Doing too many things can actually waste time.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 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. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 9, 2010

I breathe a sigh of relief when I get someones assistant on the phone or receive an email from them. Knowing assistants and having a working relationship with them is very important and can make the difference when you need to set up a meeting or if your boss needs to have a quick phone call with their boss. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 28, 2010

CountryCode.org is a comprehensive guide to make phone calls from anywhere to any country in the world. Hello Patricia, You have some great resources at [link] Given your interest in country codes, I wanted to make you aware of my site, [link] for possible inclusion as well. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 7, 2010

They said it works with most phone services. I have never used this escape route, but was reminded about it at a webinar I participated in recently and will keep these instructions close at hand. I thought I would pass this tip along in the event you find yourself wishing you could take your words back. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 19, 2009

The cure: always answer the phone professionally - this way youre never caught off-guard. I agree that we should always answer the phone professionally, but if it is a co-worker calling, it seems silly to say "Patricia Robb speaking, Executive Assistant to the CEO, may I help you?" January 19, 2009 Patricia Robb said. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 9, 2010

Did I phone to get my electricity turned on? The meetings were stress free and I was able to depend on my checklists and templates. Now I am on holidays and preparing for a big move to a new home. You can be sure I have checklists for that as well. Yes, it is ticked off on the checklist and the lights did turn on when I pressed the switch.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 5, 2009

I have a network of assistants that I call friends, although some are just phone colleagues, but we help each other. The assistant/boss relationship certainly is one of the closest working relationships with some comparing it to that of a work wife. GET TO KNOW YOUR CO-WORKERS. and find out early on who you can go to and trust.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Interviewing Holidays 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 19, 2009

The last online course I took was under $70 and was interactive using both the computer and a speaker phone for audio. I have found them to be really helpful. They can be contacted at: Louis@lastminutetraining.ca If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Training 100

Training Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 8, 2009

If it is an external meeting, but local, enter location of meeting in calendar, provide your boss with address and directions, contact phone number, taxi chit. Do you need to book it or were you provided with location. Enter it in calendar. If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 10, 2009

She said it wouldnt look good on my resume if I was seen as a job hopper. When I was a teenager, I had some good advice from someone I used to babysit for. She advised that I should stay at least one year in any job I was in. Today, I would recommend at least two years to really get the benefit of the training. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 1, 2008

I can interact where I am now, but I have to get up and go if I want to speak with someone and then when I get there I may find they are busy or on the phone so I have wasted my time. Of course there is a down side to being able to do that. (for If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 5, 2009

I am sure after that call her husband got off the phone and kicked the dog or was cranky with a sales clerk at the grocery store. It ended up that the phone lines were down because of a thunderstorm in town and he had been trying to reach her since early that afternoon. What happened? Crankiness and bad moods can be passed on.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

The Small Business Blog

JUNE 8, 2010

Ask me your small business questions, I will answer them ASAP. Business Telephone Systems & Phone Lines For Your Business techdepot.co.uk Maybe I will try to resume my blogging one of these days. Starting a Small Business? On-Demand Small Business Infrastructure™ allows you to run your business online.

2007 100

2007 2008 2006 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 10, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 28, 2009

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Gifts Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 22, 2008

An e-mail like the one I received would have been better delivered face to face or by phone in order to get the tone of what the person was trying to communicate. I stop the flow and pick up the phone. It is amazing how quickly a matter can be handled on the phone or in person. Why are we not speaking to each other anymore?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International 2008 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 15, 2010

I use this all the time on my calendar and my boss's calendar, and it helps us both to know which events are phone calls which he can take in the office or on the road (yellow) or which events will require travel (blue). I LOVE the color feature. If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list.

Calendars 100

Calendars IAAP Time Zones 2010 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 1, 2010

Even if you phone the bank they need your secret passcode or they wont speak to you about your account. It's been the most efficient way for me to keep track of them since it's so handy to get to and I 'back myself up' by putting the log-in info for my outlook account in a notes area on my cell phone. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2010 IAAP Filing 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 17, 2008

Be professional on the phone and greet people who come calling, but not everyone needs to get in to see the boss. Try to anticipate the need so you can have the file or the answer your boss needs, before he or she even knows they need it. Be protective of your boss’s time. Be very selective and guard their time. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones Filing IAAP 2008 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 27, 2008

I am not taking a wireless phone with me and I am not going to talk about work with my friends where I am visiting. A change of scenery and a change of conversation is good for us to recharge and just get away from it all from time to time. Talking about work all the time is not healthy for anyone. I cant wait! 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 31, 2009

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Administrative Professionals 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 11, 2009

I can tell you my friends and colleagues got a lot of phone calls in those early days and it was a wonderful resource and help to me. I had a big learning curve going into it and I didnt know any of the other assistants so I felt all alone with my challenges. 411 Look Up 411.ca

IAAP 100

IAAP Time Zones Administrative Professionals International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 22, 2009

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Administrative Professionals 100

Administrative Professionals Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 5, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 20, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 23, 2009

the phone book, standard filing practices etc.) Of course there were four Karens and three Bobs. See what I mean? Which do you prefer, First Name, Last Name or Last Name, First Name? I grew up in a world that used Last Name, First Name (i.e. so that is my default and I find it very user friendly. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 27, 2009

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Google 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 12, 2009

If you are sent an email with a request to do something either asap or later, did you do it or have you diarized it to do it later? Sometimes e-mail is not the best way to communicate and it needs to be followed up by a phone call or face-to-face short meeting. So it is important to read the whole message. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 27, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

PowerPoint 100

PowerPoint Time Zones IAAP 2010 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 13, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 27, 2009

I basically know how to answer the phones and take messages. I just started at a law firm this week. I have not had much guidance. They have about 9 lawyers, 2 paralegals, 1 receptionist (me), and a office manager. Then they suddenly say hey do this. It is overwhelming. (for 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 Administrative Professionals 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 23, 2010

If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP AT&T 2010 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

There is value in getting to know people, even if it is just over email or the phone. Important relationship building In all these cases I had much better results because I had established a relationship with the venue contact. Once they start to have a relationship with you they are much more open to trying to help you. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Negotiating International 100