Loosely Speaking

JANUARY 16, 2009

If you reside in Northern Arizona and your VA practice meets the * criteria listed below, then you won’t want to miss this local meet-up of seasoned professionals. I may show up. I’ll try to keep it open, because it would be fun to meet some new people and catch up with you! Sounds like fun.

2009 100

2009 2004 Agenda AT&T 100

Practically Perfect PA

OCTOBER 11, 2012

I’ve worked with quite a few Boards and Committees over the years and have organised some worthwhile meetings and also some useless time wasting meetings so I understand the balance needs to be right and steps have to be followed to ensure the meeting is a success. The timing of meetings. Post meeting.

Management 100

Management Agenda Meeting Planning Calendars 100

Practically Perfect PA

OCTOBER 11, 2012

I’ve worked with quite a few Boards and Committees over the years and have organised some worthwhile meetings and also some useless time wasting meetings so I understand the balance needs to be right and steps have to be followed to ensure the meeting is a success. The timing of meetings. Post meeting.

Management 100

Management Agenda Meeting Planning Calendars 100

All Things Admin

JUNE 23, 2021

It should be easy for someone else to pick up, follow, and achieve the same results, even if they’ve never touched the project before. Let’s use meeting and event planning as our example, and focus on creating a system for planning monthly staff meetings. Review calendars and compile date and time options.

Agenda 90

Agenda Equipment Administrative Professionals Calendars 90

Office Dynamics

DECEMBER 9, 2016

Even finding an extra five minutes a day to work on your organization skills will add up over time. Travel Planning. Event/Meeting Planning. Systems are made up of several or many different procedures. Travel Planning Example: Your travel planning system involves lots of different forms, templates, and checklists.

Travel 100

Travel Filing Forms 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. I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service? 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 19, 2009

Everyone up here calls him Obama and our Prime Minister is called Harper. I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service? ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!" 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Etiquette 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 15, 2010

.© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 16 January, 2010 Calendar "ah ha" I was participating in a Harvard sponsored webinar with my boss the other day. The topic was on personal branding and they were making recommendations to executives on how to polish up their image. I guess he thought I needed the help. Another one I never use.

Calendars 100

Calendars IAAP Time Zones 2010 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 2009 2008 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

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. 411 Look Up 411.ca " Warning!

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 Calendars 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

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 Calendars International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 24, 2009

To set a recurring 9-5 meeting (as opposed to clicking all-day meeting) I dont like the all-day meeting settings as they are out of sight at the top of the calendar and easily missed. His calendar then shows blocked time and nobody misses seeing that he is away. To do this Open a New Meeting. " Warning!

2007 100

2007 Time Zones IAAP 2003 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. 411 Look Up 411.ca 411 Look Up 411.ca Minute taking made easier.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2008 Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 29, 2009

I can hardly keep up with my own e-mails at times let alone someone elses account, but that is part of my job. If there are any deadlines or appointments, put them in your boss’s calendar or task list with appropriate reminders. Is this something he or she will need and does it have to be printed for a meeting?

Management 100

Management Time Zones IAAP 2009 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 Minute taking made easier.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 15, 2009

Tried and True Method: I set up 12 hanging file folders labelled January through to December. I then put the items in a two-fold file folder with his calendar printed out on the one side and the items he will need for the day on the other side. 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

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". 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP PowerPoint Email 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 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. I’m a visual person so it really helps me to plan my way to my goal. ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!" 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 2010 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. 411 Look Up 411.ca but Im still going. Dealing in real time.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays Meeting Minutes 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.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 2010 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 Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 29, 2009

When an opportunity came up, I went for it. Working is something we all have to do, but when it loses our interest, it makes it pretty hard to get up in the morning and make the commute in. Polish up the ol resume It is all right to send your resume out and see what kind of response you get. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones Resume IAAP Interviewing 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 Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 4, 2009

And always checking up on you. Ask yourself what things really matter to you and ask questions to bring those things up in the interview. I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service? 411 Look Up 411.ca 411 Look Up 411.ca

Management 100

Management Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 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. 411 Look Up 411.ca 411 Look Up 411.ca

2007 100

2007 Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 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 Holidays 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?" 411 Look Up 411.ca 411 Look Up 411.ca " Warning!

PowerPoint 100

PowerPoint Time Zones IAAP 2010 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 Meeting Minutes 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

SEPTEMBER 20, 2009

Telemarketing is my number one annoyance in advertising and as soon as I answer the phone and get that few seconds of dead air, that is my queue to hang up. If I did want it, then they sent me an e-mail reminder asking me if I wanted to sign up. It was easy and I got the benefit of trying the service before signing up.

Fax 100

Fax IAAP Time Zones 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 10, 2009

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. What I especially like about it is now when I need to find an e-mail that my boss sent me, it is not tangled up with all the other e-mails, but in a folder all its own. " Warning!

Time Zones 100

Time Zones Administrative Professionals IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 6, 2009

One day she just up and quit. One of the biggest issues surrounding substance abuse in the workplace are the lies required to keep up the front that everything is ok. My purpose in posting this article is to bring this topic up for anyone who is strugging with this problem or knows of someone who is. Minute taking made easier.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 21, 2009

The next time a new challenge or opportunity comes up at work, pay attention to what you tell yourself -- are you being positive or negative? Once you start doubting yourself, it is hard to bring yourself back up. He has the village all set up with the tracks running in and around it. 411 Look Up 411.ca " Warning!

Self Esteem 100

Self Esteem Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 18, 2009

I resisted for a minute and then when I just couldnt keep my head up one more minute, took my leave and went home. This cold and flu that I picked up had been going around my office for the last three weeks so I wasnt the only one who had come in when I was sick. Three days later I re-surfaced wondering where the week had gone.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100