All Things Admin

JANUARY 26, 2023

Create a Template When I train people on creating office procedures, I start by encouraging them to use a template so that they have a standardized tool to help them keep their procedures consistent from page to page whether they are typed or handwritten. This will show up under “My Templates” for ongoing use in your notebook.

Administrative Professionals 52

Administrative Professionals Mentoring Meeting Minutes Travel 52

Office Dynamics

FEBRUARY 19, 2018

Springing something on attendees during the meeting is not good use of time. Give attendees as much of a heads up as possible. One phase of meetings that often gets forgotten is the post-meeting stage. Transfer action items to follow-up lists, calendars, and “to-do” folder. Send recap of meeting or minutes.

Agenda 174

Agenda Calendars Meeting Planning Budget 174

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. Using the staff meeting planning example, here are the batches or segments: Date Selection and Participants. Meeting Agenda. Meeting Invitations. Meeting Catering.

Agenda 90

Agenda Equipment Administrative Professionals Calendars 90

Practically Perfect PA

SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

Obtaining funds from work to complete training in the current environment is difficult. Yes, Outlook Training and Training in Supporting a University Committee. To be effective in any position you need to be on the forefront of technology and systems use so I have attended many training courses for software and technology.

IAAP 100

IAAP Training AT&T Skills 100

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 Skills 100

Loosely Speaking

JANUARY 16, 2009

Home VA Training VA FAQ Podcast Featured Events for Bloggers & VAs Calling all Northern Arizona Virtual Assistants: Is there anyone out there? 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.

2009 100

2009 2004 Agenda AT&T 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 15, 2008

I want all my filing to be up to date and my desk to be neat and tidy. I want to tie up any loose ends. If you have an opportunity, clean up your old files and put them in storage if you no longer need them. Meetings - Are you in the middle of planning a meeting? I keep a meeting scheduling form at my desk.

Filing 100

Filing Calendars Staples Forms 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 6, 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.

Finance 100

Finance Medical Skills Legal 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. ► 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 International 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

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 19, 2009

.© Copyright Patricia Robb 2010 19 January, 2009 Training On-line Recently someone asked me a question about training on-line so I thought I would share the answer in a post. I use a place based in Toronto, Canada called Last Minute Training. Training On-line 10 Things = Frustration "Mom, I'm sick!"

Training 100

Training Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 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 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 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 10, 2009

Many times the administrative assistant position is a good way into an organization and what a great training ground to know an organizations inner workings than in this profession. 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 International 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 International 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. Posted by Patricia Robb at 9:52 PM Labels: Administrative Assistant , Arranging meetings , professional assistant Reactions: 3comments: Jodith said.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 Calendars 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

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

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 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. 411 Look Up 411.ca Recently, I bought a new laptop.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 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 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

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. I recently was at a friend’s place and her husband has an elaborate train set. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Self Esteem 100

Self Esteem Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 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

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 International 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. ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!" 411 Look Up 411.ca 411 Look Up 411.ca Did you do this? Did you do that? Hire smart!

Management 100

Management Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 1, 2009

at the bottom and moved the My Favourites up so it would be convenient for your use. Under My Favourites, I have added a Meeting section with some useful sites and combined many of my travel related links under one title simply called Travel. ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!"

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Administrative Professionals 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

APRIL 8, 2009

The last Board dinner I arranged the person from the hotel who was assigned to us came up to me and said, "It is so nice when things are organized. If so, what would you recommend in terms of training (university not included/possible). It is great training for the office environment, no matter what field you end up in.

Administrative Professionals 100

Administrative Professionals Time Zones IAAP 2009 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 411 Look Up 411.ca " Warning!

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

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? 411 Look Up 411.ca

Management 100

Management Time Zones IAAP 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 31, 2009

Years ago, when I worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), I took a training course on a Telex machine. Again, when I worked at the RCMP, I went on a training course for a machine to do criminal record checks. For fun, one of the officers asked me to put my name and birthdate in to see what came up.

IAAP 100

IAAP 2010 Time Zones International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 8, 2009

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. Follow up with the meeting organizer to request agenda and/or meeting materials, pre-reading, etc. Where is the meeting being held? 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 13, 2009

Normally, I put something about needing to get my filing system up to date, but I think I may have missed the point when I have done that. I use a place based in Toronto called Last Minute Training. Keep up the good work with the blog! ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!"

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2009 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 10, 2010

► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!" 411 Look Up 411.ca 411 Look Up 411.ca Confessions of a Micro-Manager ► September (3) The Advertising Game Atlanta, Georgia: The City that Smiles We live in an Acronym Happy World. " Warning! Incoming text message.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Postal Code 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 13, 2010

If I am told that I should have it in the next few weeks, or can expect to receive it in a couple of months, that doesn’t really help me with my follow up as it is not a definite date. ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!" 411 Look Up 411.ca 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes Administrative Professionals 100