Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 13, 2010

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 13 March, 2010 Are you prepared? 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. I organize my desk so everything is within easy reach and makes sense to the way I like to work.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 10, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 10 May, 2009 Getting your foot in the door. 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? Lets enjoy our day together.© 5, 2010 at 12 p.m.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Stephanie LH Calahan

APRIL 12, 2010

Productive & Organized Home Contribute to P&O! Work With Stephanie « Get Organized and Lose Weight!   In fact, if you don't have a morning routine that enhances your chances of starting off right, you may doom the rest of your day to failure!   Don't like to get physical? 

Networking 100

Networking Goals Twitter Environment 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 12, 2010

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 12 July, 2010 Admin in the Spotlight: Interview with Lynn Holgate, 2010 Stevie® Award winner Lynn Holgate, an Executive Assistant at High Performance Technologies, Inc. My goal for this blog is to give good tips and ideas and occasionally put a smile on your face as you start your day!Lets

2010 100

2010 Interviewing Time Zones IAAP 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.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 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. Lets enjoy our day together.©

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 1, 2010

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 2 July, 2010 We dont know what we dont know We really dont know what we dont know do we? 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. Lets enjoy our day together.©

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 16, 2010

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 16 May, 2010 Whose meeting is it anyway? The person sending out the request for the meeting and asking for dates would usually be considered the meeting organizer. Laughing All the Way to Work: A Survival Blog for Todays Administrative Assistant We all have to work, but who says we cant enjoy it too!

Agenda 100

Agenda Time Zones International IAAP 100

Professional Assistant Blog

FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Here are Some Good-Sense E-mail Etiquette Tips E-mail Salutations: Although e-mail is less formal than writing a letter it is still polite to open with a greeting. If I didn’t know the person, and it was my first communication to him/her, I would use both names: John McDonald. This is a great tip from Jane Watson of J.

2008 100

2008 2007 Cubicle Fax 100

Eat Your Career

AUGUST 9, 2010

You won’t make any friends in business if you don’t respect the basic rules of etiquette, and this is certainly one of the most important. Offer to help train others and organize your work as best you can for an easy transition. That’s how I know what works and what doesn’t. Visualize your perfect career transition.

2010 100

2010 Stress Resume Cover Letter 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 10, 2008

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 10 October, 2008 Working for the Disorganized. 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. Lets enjoy our day together.©

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2008 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. Lets enjoy our day together.© 5, 2010 at 12 p.m. Dealing in real time.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 11, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 11 October, 2009 That is not in my job description. And sometimes it isn’t, but from my experience if you read an administrative or executive assistant job description there is usually a phrase something like this, “providing administrative support.&# Lets enjoy our day together.©

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 8, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 8 November, 2009 Preparing your boss for meetings away from the office or at home I had a good tip from my boss that I have used to help me prepare him for meetings whether they are away or at home. 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

FEBRUARY 14, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 14 February, 2009 Just a secretary. I love the planning, organizing and running around that goes into bringing a conference from a thought to a successful event. Laughing All the Way to Work: A Survival Blog for Todays Administrative Assistant We all have to work, but who says we cant enjoy it too!

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. I find the best way for me to keep my Inbox organized is to immediately deal with the e-mail when it arrives. Lets enjoy our day together.©

Time Zones 100

Time Zones Administrative Professionals 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. My boss is now organized for the day and I can relax and get on with my other work.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2008 IAAP Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 4, 2008

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 4 October, 2008 Kings and Queens of the Office A friend was telling me about an Executive Assistant who has taken on a superior attitude at work and seems to think she is the Queen, looking down her nose on all her subjects, the other assistants. Lets enjoy our day together.© 5, 2010 at 12 p.m.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 9, 2010

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 9 May, 2010 Building Relationships one Assistant at a Time Assistants are in contact with other assistants on a daily basis. If I deal with someone and can see that they have organized something well, I will make sure to ask them about it. Lets enjoy our day together.© 5, 2010 at 12 p.m.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 12, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 12 December, 2009 On the job tips for new Admins. He can ignore e-mails, but it is hard to ignore me :) When you are copied on an e-mail, read the whole message, don’t just skim it. Lets enjoy our day together.© I put a sticky note on it, or write, the day I will need it, i.e. bf Dec.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 7, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 7 September, 2009 We live in an Acronym Happy World. 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. Lets enjoy our day together.© Does anyone even know what CNN stands for?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones ASAP IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 31, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 31 December, 2009 Office Confidential: Just for fun to start your New Year off with a laugh These are excerpts from a presentation I gave to my local International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Chapter dinner meeting. Lets enjoy our day together.© Needless to say -- it worked!

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2010 IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 8, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 8 August, 2009 Its all in how you feel Remember when you were younger and got a new pair of running shoes? Is everything organized and in the proper place so when you need it you can just grab it? Lets enjoy our day together.© What about your work space? Is it neat and tidy? 5, 2010 at 12 p.m.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 13, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 13 January, 2009 Is it that time of the year already? In some organizations raises are tied to how well you do and it is also a record that is kept on your personnel file. Lets enjoy our day together.© As painful an exercise as this may be, I wouldnt downplay the performance appraisal.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 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. Lets enjoy our day together.© 5, 2010 at 12 p.m.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 29, 2008

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 29 September, 2008 Cystic Fibrosis Hello Readers, My great nephew Owen has recently been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Taking stock We don't know what we don't know ► June (1) Playing nice in the sandbox ► May (2) Whose meeting is it anyway? Lets enjoy our day together.©

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 21, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 21 February, 2009 Thats not my job! 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. Lets enjoy our day together.© Someone who says, "Thats not my job!" 5, 2010 at 12 p.m.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 4, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 4 October, 2009 Confessions of a Micro-Manager Who would want to work for a micro-manager? Show your boss that you want to contribute to their success and to the organization. My goal for this blog is to give good tips and ideas and occasionally put a smile on your face as you start your day!Lets

Management 100

Management Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 5, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 5 July, 2009 Psst! I find talking it over with a friend can be a good way to organize your thoughts. My goal for this blog is to give good tips and ideas and occasionally put a smile on your face as you start your day!Lets Lets enjoy our day together.© Im in a bad mood, pass it on.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 11, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 11 July, 2009 The importance of having someone to talk to Recently, I met with a former colleague for an inpromptu lunch. Check out some of the sites and organizations and see which you would find to be most useful. Lets enjoy our day together.© We can all help each other. I understand!

IAAP 100

IAAP Time Zones Administrative Professionals International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 17 September, 2010 Whats all the fuss about reading contracts? Laughing All the Way to Work: A Survival Blog for Todays Administrative Assistant We all have to work, but who says we cant enjoy it too! Lets enjoy our day together.© What are the dates you can cancel by? When the invoice arrives.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Negotiating International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 13, 2008

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 13 September, 2008 Why I love my job? Taking stock We don't know what we don't know ► June (1) Playing nice in the sandbox ► May (2) Whose meeting is it anyway? Lets enjoy our day together.© OK so I dont love it, but I do enjoy it. So why do I like my job?

Time Zones 100

Time Zones Interviewing IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 8, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 8 February, 2009 Sticks and stones will break my bones.but names will never hurt me Depending on where you work and the work culture, it can determine what you are called at the office. My goal for this blog is to give good tips and ideas and occasionally put a smile on your face as you start your day!Lets

Administrative Professionals 100

Administrative Professionals Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 29, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 29 August, 2009 Managing your Bosss Inbox Nowadays our bosses are busy almost 24/7 and in order to cope they need our help managing their e-mail account. Going through some major organizing and filing here at our office and this is another 'a propos' topic that hits home. Happy trolling!

Management 100

Management Time Zones IAAP 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 17, 2010

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 17 April, 2010 Keeping focussed in a busy environment There are so many distractions in the office -- the telephone, your co-workers, email and your boss! Now that I knew what was taking the time, I could do something about it and make adjustments to organize my day better. 23, 1 p.m.

Environment 100

Environment Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 13, 2008

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 14 December, 2008 What happens at the office Christmas party, stays at the office Christmas party.NOT! The office party can be a good time for some networking with the different people in your organization. Lets enjoy our day together.© It is not that I dont like my co-workers, because I do.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 24, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 24 May, 2009 Word and Outlook 2007 tips I use Word 2007 at my new job and have never really had a chance to go through it to find the quick tips and how-tos that I had in Word 2003. My goal for this blog is to give good tips and ideas and occasionally put a smile on your face as you start your day!Lets

2007 100

2007 Time Zones IAAP 2003 100