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. ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!" 411 Look Up 411.ca 411 Look Up 411.ca National pride -- all time high.

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. ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!" 411 Look Up 411.ca 411 Look Up 411.ca Their new role must seem awesome to them. Why do we not use their full name? " Warning! Incoming text message.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Etiquette 2009 100

Men With Pens

JUNE 27, 2010

That is, when you sleep, because chances are you’re cutting corners all over the place to make ends meet. Admitting that your sleep patterns are all screwed up and that you can’t hack it? Arianna Huffington of Huffington Post once passed out from exhaustion – she broke her cheekbone and ended up with five stitches.

2010 40

2010 AT&T Health Stress 40

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

AUGUST 13, 2010

I had no idea this could be done, but I was thrilled when I got her email, but it just proved to me once again that we are all holding on to things we take for granted that others know about. The tip she sent me was how to edit an email that you have received. Close out of the email and you will be asked to Save the changes.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP PowerPoint Email 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 you pay attention to what is going on in their Inbox, you will not be taken by surprise when things come up. Is this something he or she will need and does it have to be printed for a meeting? " Warning!

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! To finish up and make it shine, I used a glass cleaner. ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!"

Environment 100

Environment Time Zones IAAP 2010 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

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. The worst time to write an email is when you are angry. Lets enjoy our day together.©

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Professional Assistant Blog

MARCH 20, 2008

Today’s assistants are computer savvy, smart and up-and-coming, and consider themselves professionals in the workplace. Those who are skilled at regularly thinking on their feet as they come up with solutions and ideas both on the computer and on the job might be able to step into this role.

2008 100

2008 2007 Cubicle Google Docs 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 1, 2010

There are just too many passwords to remember, and that doesnt include my bosss passwords that I also need to know because I have to check his emails as well as my own. Some sites use your email address as the log in, while others require you to create your own. Servers are usually backed up daily, so your file will likely be restored.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2010 IAAP Filing 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

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. Once you have completed a task, send your boss a quick e-mail to let them know you have done it or cc them on your email. Someone who is on your back for every little thing. Did you do this?

Management 100

Management Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 5, 2010

Does your boss ever organize a meeting behind your back? He will have a quick conversation with a staff member and set up a meeting, but not tell me anything about it. Depending on the importance of the impromptu meeting, it may need to be changed to another timeslot to accommodate his or her calendar. " Warning!

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 22, 2008

I stop the flow and pick up the phone. If it is urgent, pick up the phone, or visit the person, if he/she is in the same office. I also learned not to open e-mails first thing in the morning, but to clear up any urgencies, or open mail, etc. Keep up the good work. This little tip has been a huge time-saver for me.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International 2008 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. but Im still going. " Warning! Incoming text message.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays 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

JANUARY 15, 2010

The topic was on personal branding and they were making recommendations to executives on how to polish up their image. I can even make reminders to him for his personal events (green) like lunch with a friend or picking up dry cleaning. ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!"

Calendars 100

Calendars IAAP Time Zones 2010 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

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 Lets enjoy our day together.©

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

JULY 1, 2010

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. ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!" 411 Look Up 411.ca 411 Look Up 411.ca " Warning!

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 16, 2010

They are responsible for canvassing the participants for dates and determining the date everyone is available and coummunicating that information to the participants by sending out a meeting request to everyone or emailing the date (depending on how you or your organization prefers to send notices of meetings). " Warning!

Agenda 100

Agenda Time Zones International IAAP 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

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

DECEMBER 31, 2009

For fun, one of the officers asked me to put my name and birthdate in to see what came up. LOOK UP, LOOK DOWN : While an EA was talking to the CEO, her skirt slipped down and landed at her feet. Up to that point neither of us had realized the significance of its location. Now how would you handle that situation? (I

IAAP 100

IAAP 2010 Time Zones International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 24, 2009

Turn off automatic email memoryTools, Options, Preferences, E-mail Options, Advanced E-mail OptionsUnclick “Suggest names while completing To, cc and bcc…&# Turn off items being marked as read when your cursor sits on it On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Other tab. 411 Look Up 411.ca " Warning!

2007 100

2007 Time Zones IAAP 2003 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 10, 2009

She saw the importance of this training to help her daughter know the workings of an office from the bottom up and the office benefitted from her educational training. She was a smart kid and picked up the tasks assigned to her very quickly. I have seen admin assistants climb up the corporate ladder just that way.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

I called them and thankfully they had space available on the date I needed and we were able to amend the contract, but imagine if I hadnt noticed and we showed up on the 7th? My last Board meeting I ordered lunch for 10, but I had 15 Board members in attendance. Hold the space please? " Warning! Incoming text message.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Negotiating 2010 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 20, 2009

Of course, the reason could have been that I was up all night with a sick child or wasnt feeling well myself or I just had an argument with my spouse and was still stewing about it. Other than the extra work I need to do at the gym to tone up and trim down, I saw some good qualities as well and it was helpful to see myself present.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2009 IAAP Administrative Professionals 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. If I hear from the assistant I know I am going to get answers and the process of setting up a meeting will go smoothly, but should I try to develop a working relationship with them? 411 Look Up 411.ca " Warning!

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 15, 2009

Other times we will be talking and I notice his eyes moving to his BlackBerry and I will see he is no longer paying attention to me, but reading emails instead. However, I think our etiquette hasnt caught up with the technology. ▼ August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!"

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Etiquette Phones 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 19, 2009

You usually answer according to what you see on the display and say “Hi&# , thinking it is an internal call, but they are transferring an outside call so you end up sounding unprofessional. Meeting documents: some people have it printed single sided and others double sided. I have a love/hate relationship with the email autofill.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 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. For paper things that I need to remember to follow up on, I put the letter or document in my Wait Bin (which is a tray for things I am waiting on). 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

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

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