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'Administrative Assistants Rock! Join our April Blog-A-Thon. April is just around the corner and we love celebrating administrative professionals! This is the month we can (and will) celebrate in a big way. In honor of Administrative Professionals Week (4/20 – 4/24) and Office Dynamics 25th Year in business educating administrative professionals and their executives, we are bringing back our Blog-a-Thon.
'Staying focused and on track is one of the hardest things for a business owner to do. After all… there are the emails to check. the client calls to take. the follow-up to do. the product to launch. the program to create. the social media to update. Phew! The list goes on and on … And it’s a constant hamster-wheel of busyness and things to do.
'In this post I am assuming your Executive has a task list that they use every day to get through their work! Hopefully this task list is available for you to access on a daily basis and you have the rights to edit and update the list. Ideally the list should be on the same email system that you use to manage their inbox and schedule (Microsoft Outlook for example).
'I did something yesterday that I’ve been putting off since 2007. I went to a photography studio and had professional photos taken for my business. I know it’s something I should have done way back when. It’s something every business guru recommends. So why did it take me so long to have them done? I’m not going to lie to you, having my picture taken isn’t my favorite thing to do.
Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.
'The chart below, which shows a decline in employer-provided and on-the-job training in recent decades, has been making the rounds in the economic blogs. It comes from the 2015 Economic Report of the President (page 147), which is prepared annually by the President's Council of Economic Advisers for Congress. This data is collected only occasionally by the U.S.
'Congratulations! You made it through winter. Say goodbye to your sky-high heating bills and hello to spring! Unfortunately, you won’t be saying goodbye to your energy worries altogether, though. Before you know it, summer will be here. And depending on your climate, it may be time to kick on those cooling systems sooner rather than later. So how can you be sure you’re not paying an arm and a leg for energy come spring and summer?
'Do I have your attention? Good. Should your title be “secretary,” please do not take offense to what you are about to read. Secretary vs Assistant. Do secretaries actually think differently than business professionals? Are people with the title “secretary” viewed differently than people with the titles “administrative assistant” or “executive assistant”?
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'Do I have your attention? Good. Should your title be “secretary,” please do not take offense to what you are about to read. Secretary vs Assistant. Do secretaries actually think differently than business professionals? Are people with the title “secretary” viewed differently than people with the titles “administrative assistant” or “executive assistant”?
'If you’re not fully maximizing your website you’ll be missing out on new subscribers. There are many ways to capture a visitor to your website, and turn them into a new subscriber, but if you’re not fully using all of the strategies available to do so, then you’re going to be missing out on filling your pipeline with potential clients and customers.
'For all of you that could not attend the Assist Conference this year I wanted to share my presentation with you – Reward and Recognition within the Assistant Industry. This session was actually crowd sourced by the Practically Perfect PA readers. We conducted a survey last year and one of the questions asked what session would the readers like to see at a conference.
'In the Virtual Mentoring Program, and Virtual Basics at AssistU (and in the Virtual Training Program that came before them), we''ve long shared two documents: The Virtual Assistant''s Bill of Rights , and the Client''s Bill of Rights. . The idea behind their creation was to help blast apart the inherent patriarchal relationship most admins have known as employees. where the "boss" is always right (or at least, always the boss and always in charge), and the admin has very little power or equal
'I've never met a small business owner who liked taxes. No surprise there. Also, if you talk to small business owners for any length of time, most will eventually complain about taxes. The recently released Wasp Barcode Small Business Accounting Report supports this. As the report chart below shows and Wasp highlights in their blog post on the report , 52% of respondents report that they pay too much on taxes are they are not sure.
Speaker: Tim Buteyn, President of ThinkingKap Learning Solutions
Join this brand new webinar with Tim Buteyn to learn how you can master the art of remote onboarding! By the end of this session, you'll understand how to: Craft a Tailored Onboarding Checklist 📝 Develop a comprehensive, customized checklist that ensures every new hire has a smooth transition into your company, no matter where they are in the world.
'With increasing numbers of people working from home, such as knowledge workers, freelancers, and stock traders, a high specification office is not a luxury any more – it’s essential for your health and effectiveness. As well as helping you work efficiently, a home office can allow you to enjoy some creature comforts. However, with most… Read the full article here: Create the ultimate home office working environment in 5 easy steps on: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG.
'Completion of Certificate Programs, Certifications and Designation are industry marks of excellence. They are immediately recognizable and say to others, “I take my career seriously.”. In today’s competitive workplace, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. Employers want administrative and executive assistants with more than experience. They want true professionals—people who are committed to the administrative profession as a career choice, willing to invest in their own growth, and eager to go
'Discipline. That''s it. That''s no drama. That''s no secret either. But the question is how to attain that level of discipline that will get everything you committed to doing done. Habits. Discipline, in a sense, is adherence to habits that you, yourself, have established and decided to stick to. Thank you for subscribing! Please grab my free productivity ebook!
'Imagine the scene – you’ve been asked to lead on a piece of work, for example compiling a report or managing a new project. You have to gather information from a number of colleagues so that you can complete the work you have been given. As the days and weeks go by you have received most of the information you need and most of your colleagues have been really helpful.
Unlock your full potential with our comprehensive guide on productivity. This detailed resource explores the three fundamental pillars of effective task management: Todo List Mastery, Time Management, and Habit Optimization. Learn to capture and prioritize your tasks effectively, schedule them using proven strategies like the Pomodoro Technique, and maintain your productivity through consistent habit tracking.
'There are a bunch of requirements our Virtual Mentoring Program participants have to meet before they can graduate; the final exam is the last of them. The exam is rigorous, multi-day, and folks taking it can spend 25+ hours on it. In addition, because it''s done virtually, this exam has very strict guidelines for how it has to be turned in, when, and what happens if it''s late.
'Really interesting atricle by the folks at Zen99 on the amount of money being spent by on-demand economy companies like Uber, Lyft and Instacart are spending to recruit "providers" (contract workers). The numbers are quite large. For example, Lyft is reported to have budgeted $50 million for driver recruitment this year alone. And the major on-demand economy companies are each spending millions of dollars a year on Craigslist ads.
'Getting new prospects is the first step in getting new clients and orders. Even then it is not certain you will get any new business. Over the years I have learned one thing, customer referrals are by a long way the best way to get new customers. Simply put, clients who talk about you do… Read the full article here: Mouth to Mouth Marketing on: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG.
'(Excerpt from Office Dynamics’ World Class Assistant™ Certificate Program). This article was originally posted at Linked.com. Establishing rapport is critical to attaining successful business and personal relationships. While everyone must competently use today’s information technology tools, too many of us are ignoring the proven importance and effectiveness of interpersonal communication skills.
Sharing your authentic self in a virtual interview can be an unwanted challenge. How do you break through the digital barrier when conducting a virtual interview and share your exceptional self? Think in unconventional ways to elevate the virtual interviewing experience.
'Finally we’re getting a little bit warmer here in our corner of north-west Ohio. And it makes a huge difference to your mindset; suddenly you feel energetic and enthusiastic! My youngest two are on Spring break next week, so maybe the weather will co-operate and we’ll be able to do a few fun outdoor activities! If you don’t already know this by now, I’m a huge fan of keeping things simple in my business, from the programs that I offer to the systems that I implement—why
'Most businesses are made up of a variety of people and characters. There are so many different tests we can take which determine our personality type, we should work in a team and how all of us can get the best out of each other. There are the introverts and the extroverts and of course the organised analytical types and the disorganised creative personalities.
'I’m Granmama to a 3 year old princess. Since moving back to Maine I’ve enjoyed lots of quality time with her and that includes watching some of her favorite shows. At 3, Disney Junior is to her what AMC or HBO are for me, the home to her favorite shows and characters. Needless to say I’ve spent hours getting acquainted with them, but I’m happy to say those hours weren’t totally unrelated to my business.
'Kudos to Wasp Barcode Technologies for their excellent Small Business Accounting report. It contains survey results from companies with 11-100 employees on issues related to their accounting and finance functions. According to their blog post on the report , the key findings include: 52% of respondents report that they pay too much on taxes are they are not sure. 70% of small businesses outsource tax preparation, and 30% outsource tax planning. 88% say they are either very satisfied or somewhat
New vaccine mandates and testing policies will affect employers with more than 100 workers. Get Paycor’s free, customizable vaccination policy template to communicate critical details and new requirements to your employees. Get Paycor’s Template today!
'Do you really need to have a meeting? I would suggest not! Meetings cost time – which means money. They often do meetings achieve very little and are not really necessary. But should you need to discuss – person to person – any issues, there are other ways to hold a meeting too. Here to… Read the full article here: Meetings, Meetings, Meetings on: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG.
'The Importance of Daily Huddles. When I was an executive assistant, one of the best success strategies my favorite executive taught me, at a young age, was to have daily huddles with him. Now this came from an executive who traveled around the world, would work until 2:00 a.m., come in on Saturdays and had 10 Directors reporting to him. So, if that executive could make time for me, anyone can do this.
'One of the areas that I help my private consulting clients understand is that of strategy — understanding the WHY behind the systems your set up : Why do you need this system? Why are you setting it up this way? What is going to be the end result of setting up this system? As a business owner it’s so important that you understand the strategy behind everything you do you in your business.
' My first attempt at public speaking was back in 2013 at an exhibition for assistants and office managers. At the time I was absolutely petrified. Every fibre of my being was telling me to run away as quickly as my shaky legs could carry me. I managed to get through that first speech and since then I have presented at a number of events. Although I still get incredibly nervous I am less likely to bolt or shake uncontrollably.
Payroll optimization can be one of the most time-consuming and complex factors of small business management. Yet, organizations that crack the code on streamlining employee compensation often discover innovative avenues for growth. With the right strategies in place, outsourcing and streamlining payroll processes can result in substantial time and resource savings.
'There are plenty of people out there telling you how to grow your business. I’m actually one of them. But in the interest of not leaving anyone out, I’ve decided that I should probably think about those business owners who would rather not see their businesses grow and gain success. Below are my top ten tips for helping you waste time and procrastinate in growing your business. 10.
'It seems almost every day an on-demand economy company announces a big fund raise. For example, the delivery service Door Dash announced last week it raised an additional $40 million. And pretty much all of these companies have business models built on the use of independent contractors as service "providers" Most of these are trying to attract independent contractors from roughly the same pool - people looking for flexible, independent work in the service sector with a l
'Last week, I posted about the VA''s Bill of Rights, and suggested that you embrace the standards it contains. This week, I''m sharing the Client''s Bill of Rights, and with it the same suggestion. :). Clients have the right to certain expectations of you in the work you do together. Please notice that none of the rights have anything to do with making you "less-than," or treating you like an employee.
'By now you’ve likely heard of the importance of keeping a Career Portfolio. Do you have one? Have you considered the digital version of your portfolio? It’s a lot easier to create and update a digital portfolio than you might think … even if you aren’t a tech-loving person! I’m going to break down 6 easy-to-use resources for you that will help you to get started on the digital version of your career portfolio.
Speaker: Tim Buteyn, President of ThinkingKap Learning Solutions
💢 Do you find yourself stuck in never-ending review cycles? Are you wondering if your Subject Matter Expert actually got that last review request? Are you having trouble trying to decipher impractical or conflicting feedback? 💢 If any of these scenarios sounds familiar, you may benefit from a crash course on managing SME relationships!
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