Professional Assistant Blog

NOVEMBER 20, 2007

Here are 5 ways to score brownie points with your boss and get that promotion or raise (or both) a little faster: The one thing that I’ve learned over the course of my career is to try getting to know your boss. Try to become an excellent team player. Are you a seasoned veteran like myself (well, this is what people tell me)?

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Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 1, 2009

I like working with someone who has initiative, wants to do a good job and is keen to contribute to the team, but is there a time when initiative is not a good thing? If you are a new hire, take the time to learn and ask questions. The first months on the job are a learning and growing experience. 23, 1 p.m. (New

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Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 19, 2009

© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 19 January, 2009 10 Things = Frustration When one team member doesn’t want to play. The cure: always answer the phone professionally - this way youre never caught off-guard. I really like the number 1- team player issue. Lets enjoy our day together.© How important is it, really? (to

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Laughing all the Way to Work

JUNE 4, 2010

Some people dont play well in a team and can be like that link in the chain that keeps skipping. What can you do if you are part of a team that is not playing well together? Are you doing your part and contributing to the goals of the team or are you getting bogged down with situations? Good team play can be contagious.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 1, 2010

I have been on some interactive sites where assistants ask questions and get answers and I learn from them as I have some of the same questions. Lunch n learns are also a good way to learn from each other. Administrative newsletters or bulletin boards where you can post tips or suggestions is a good way to learn.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

What is the proper etiquette when addressing or writing to a President? Here is a video link on the proper etiquette to address a President. Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Etiquette 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 17, 2010

What I learned very quickly was that I had to finish one room at a time. 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.

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Environment Time Zones IAAP 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. Never underestimate what you can learn from other assistants.

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Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 20, 2010

The team members were pleased with the work and it was agreed that the Finance Director should pay the invoice from the Recreation Account. The language of minutes Discussion and questions ensued -- The team members agreed -- It was decided -- The following points were made. Then the action makes perfect sense. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Stephanie LH Calahan

APRIL 12, 2010

Main | Your Etiquette Practice Could be Killing Your Productivity » 5 Easy Ways Kick-Start Your Daily Personal Productivity As you search for your ultimate personal productivity blueprint, don't forget to think about how you get going in the morning.  Learn whatis enhancing or impeding your productivity today!

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Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 7, 2010

They said it works with most phone services. But, as I learned the hard way it doesn't work on all systems. Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! 23, 1 p.m. (New 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 22, 2009

Posted by Patricia Robb at 6:13 PM Labels: Administrative Assistant , etiquette for addressing officials , professional assistant Reactions: 2comments: Carol Bory said. Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style!

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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.

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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.

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Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 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?

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Time Zones IAAP International 2008 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

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Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 12, 2008

Be a team player. I can honestly say that even though it was a hard time to go through, I ended up getting a much better job and a better opportunity and can look back on it as a good learning experience. My former boss gave me an excellent reference on paper and by phone. Dont try and hide and stay below the radar.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 20, 2010

It can also improve team work and general office dynamics. Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! If you dont have that in your office, why not suggest it to the other assistants? 23, 1 p.m. (New 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 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. Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! 411 Look Up 411.ca Me/Myself/I More Important vs. More Importantly Ms.

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Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Service Untitled

FEBRUARY 29, 2012

This is the fourth and final part of my interview with Rob Siefker, the Director of the Customer Loyatly Team at Zappos. You know in the call center we have different ways for our team leads to provide feedback. So they have manageable team sizes. They can listen to phone calls. It’s a little different.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 31, 2009

Lesson learned and will now put me on high gut alert. Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! In both of my situations, it would have been helpful if I had given my input. 23, 1 p.m. (New 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 31, 2009

I know the newness of it all will be gone soon and it will just be a normal thing that he is a little walker, but for now it is cute to see him learn this new skill. Admit your mistakes and try to learn from them. When I told my boss he said it must be my grandsons version of the 12 step program. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 10, 2010

Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! Its and Its Learned vs. Learnt Lets versus lets Listing job responsibilities May,Should, Must may/might and can/could Me or Myself? 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 27, 2009

Be kind to your new hires and available to answer their questions and help them learn the ropes. The sooner they are up to speed, the sooner they will be able to contribute to the team and that helps everyone. I basically know how to answer the phones and take messages. The first week on the job can be very overwhelming.

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Time Zones IAAP 2009 Administrative Professionals 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. I have always liked to share and learn from my co-workers. Of course there is a down side to being able to do that. 5, 2010 at 12 p.m. (New

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Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 28, 2009

Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! Its and Its Learned vs. Learnt Lets versus lets Listing job responsibilities May,Should, Must may/might and can/could Me or Myself? 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Gifts Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

They are a team of office professionals for office professionals. Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! It was an amazing conference. If you have never heard of OfficeArrow I would recommend you check them out.

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Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 13, 2010

I mentioned this to our team of admins at one of our meetings so when one of my co-workers found out how to do something they thought to share it with the team. Other ways you can learn new things is to: Subscribe to feeds from various admin or business sites. So how can we know what we dont know? 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 12, 2010

Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! Its and Its Learned vs. Learnt Lets versus lets Listing job responsibilities May,Should, Must may/might and can/could Me or Myself? 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 9, 2010

Did I phone to get my electricity turned on? Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! The meetings were stress free and I was able to depend on my checklists and templates. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 11, 2009

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. 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. This is where a strong assistant team is nice to have.

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IAAP Time Zones Administrative Professionals International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 4, 2008

If they are a team player then that filters down to the staff, but if they are the King of the Hill, then that also starts to filter down and people start to feel more important than they should and a lot of power struggles start happening and back-biting. If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 16, 2008

I did do research however and read as many articles and books on the subject that I could and then I tackled the article and actually learned something while doing it. Writing on a subject you know nothing about is a good way to learn something about that particular topic. See, it wasnt that hard after all now was it? (New

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Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 22, 2009

Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! Its and Its Learned vs. Learnt Lets versus lets Listing job responsibilities May,Should, Must may/might and can/could Me or Myself? 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Administrative Professionals Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 5, 2010

Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! Its and Its Learned vs. Learnt Lets versus lets Listing job responsibilities May,Should, Must may/might and can/could Me or Myself? 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP 2010 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. Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! GET TO KNOW YOUR CO-WORKERS. We are not an island.

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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. Join us at the luxurious Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast for an amazing end of year get away and your chance to network, learn and advance your skills in style! I have found them to be really helpful.

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