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. Sometimes a better way to communicate would be picking up the phone or meeting someone face to face. Seeing Red Does it matter what colour of font you use in your e-mail?

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Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 15, 2009

Sometimes I wish I had something to warn me when I am with someone with a cell phone so I can know that we are going to be interrupted. I find it frustrating when people either text while in a conversation or are constantly taking phone calls. Apparently not, when its by phone. In an emergency, the cell phone is a useful tool.

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Professional Assistant Blog

MARCH 20, 2008

Administrative assistants are highly skilled in many areas and sometimes we take it for granted, not recognizing where we could go with our skills.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 17, 2010

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. Having a to-do list can be a life saver. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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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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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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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

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Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 19, 2009

The cure: always answer the phone professionally - this way youre never caught off-guard. I agree that we should always answer the phone professionally, but if it is a co-worker calling, it seems silly to say "Patricia Robb speaking, Executive Assistant to the CEO, may I help you?" January 19, 2009 Patricia Robb said. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP 2009 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 Meeting Minutes 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. Of course there is a down side to being able to do that. (for 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

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

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. Another helpful site I refer to for protocol on addressing officials is www.formsofaddress.info. (for 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 5, 2009

I am sure after that call her husband got off the phone and kicked the dog or was cranky with a sales clerk at the grocery store. It ended up that the phone lines were down because of a thunderstorm in town and he had been trying to reach her since early that afternoon. What happened? Crankiness and bad moods can be passed on.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 1, 2010

Even if you phone the bank they need your secret passcode or they wont speak to you about your account. It's been the most efficient way for me to keep track of them since it's so handy to get to and I 'back myself up' by putting the log-in info for my outlook account in a notes area on my cell phone. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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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. What a great way to lose customers -- annoy them, but they must be making some money at it or they wouldnt continue to do it. September 21, 2009 Patricia Robb said. Oh, I agree.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 7, 2010

They said it works with most phone services. I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 27, 2008

I am not taking a wireless phone with me and I am not going to talk about work with my friends where I am visiting. I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 17, 2008

Be professional on the phone and greet people who come calling, but not everyone needs to get in to see the boss. I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion.

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Time Zones IAAP Filing 2008 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 8, 2009

If it is an external meeting, but local, enter location of meeting in calendar, provide your boss with address and directions, contact phone number, taxi chit. Do you need to book it or were you provided with location. Enter it in calendar. If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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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. I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 9, 2010

Did I phone to get my electricity turned on? I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. Now I am on holidays and preparing for a big move to a new home.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 12, 2008

My former boss gave me an excellent reference on paper and by phone. I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. One of the things they stressed was to hire well.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 27, 2009

I basically know how to answer the phones and take messages. I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. I just started at a law firm this week. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP 2009 Administrative Professionals 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 23, 2009

the phone book, standard filing practices etc.) I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. Of course there were four Karens and three Bobs. See what I mean?

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Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 11, 2009

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. 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. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 15, 2010

I use this all the time on my calendar and my boss's calendar, and it helps us both to know which events are phone calls which he can take in the office or on the road (yellow) or which events will require travel (blue). I LOVE the color feature. 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

JANUARY 13, 2009

The last online course I took was under $70 and was interactive using both the computer and a speaker phone for audio. I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion.

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Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 24, 2009

If it is with an outside contact, a phone call apologizing for your error and being open to whatever steps you need to take to make it right will go a long way to fixing it. Sometimes we feel we have to do everything ourselves, but there can be alternatives if we ask. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 15, 2009

Other Tasks: If you need to set yourself a Task further to a phone call request or just to set a reminder to do something at a future date, highlight the Tasks folder by clicking on it once and from your Outlook Toolbar press New and it will open a Task for you and you can then proceed as above to set your dates and reminders. (for

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Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 17, 2010

There is value in getting to know people, even if it is just over email or the phone. I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 9, 2008

I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Postal Code 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 10, 2008

I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Postal Code 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 22, 2009

I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 31, 2009

I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Postal Code 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 10, 2010

I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Postal Code 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 4, 2008

I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Holidays 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 14, 2008

I also do not claim to give any medical, financial, psychological, veterinary, retail, personal training or HR advice, although at times it may seem like I think I know what Im talking about, it is just my opinion. If you find some are outdated please let me know so I can remove them from this list. 411 Look Up 411.ca

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Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Holidays 100