Professional Assistant Blog

AUGUST 18, 2008

I couldn’t believe it either. I personally couldn’t do this, but it’s quite interesting that people would actually think of this. I work in a back office environment, where 99% of our client interaction is via the phone, e-mail or outside of the office, so I can wear jeans and a t-shirt.

2008 100

2008 Cubicle Google Docs 2007 100

Professional Assistant Blog

OCTOBER 17, 2008

You reminisce about that Seinfeld episode where Elaine gets stuck on the subway and starts talking to herself about how the train isn’t moving and starts to get claustrophobic. You start to notice a particular smell, yet you know it wasn’t you, but you wonder if everyone thinks that it was. This is you now!

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Professional Assistant Blog

MARCH 26, 2008

Until next time, T ake care - of your clutter! Home About Me Advertise Why People Gossip At The Office By The Professional Assistant on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Filed Under: Meetings , Office Gossip , Productivity D o you gossip at the office? Do you get sucked into the gossip of others? Gossip has never been a positive matter.

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Professional Assistant Blog

FEBRUARY 21, 2008

By The Professional Assistant on Thursday, February 21, 2008 Filed Under: Client Service , Meetings , Productivity Y ou’re walking around the office and someone comes up to you, asking for a pen. You search your pockets and realize that you don’t have one. Has this ever happened to you?

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Professional Assistant Blog

JANUARY 14, 2008

By The Professional Assistant on Monday, January 14, 2008 Filed Under: Client Service , Organize , Prioritize , Productivity Y ou write an e-mail to a staff member about a client having an issue with something. The staff member writes you back, but you don’t quite understand it. You write them again, asking for clarification.

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Professional Assistant Blog

DECEMBER 4, 2007

Do you feel that they are overbearing and don’t know when to keep their opinions to themselves? Don’t allow yourself to become them. Remember that you want to be the bigger person and don’t sink to their level. Don’t let your work performance suffer. Practice, practice, practice!

Cubicle 100

Cubicle 2008 2007 Google Docs 100

Professional Assistant Blog

NOVEMBER 30, 2007

By The Professional Assistant on Friday, November 30, 2007 Filed Under: A re you looking for a way to make sure that others don’t open your letters or packages? Home About Me Advertise Want Confidential Documents to Stay Confidential? Then Redi-Tag Security Seals and Tape is the product for you.

Google Docs 100

Google Docs Cubicle 2008 2007 100

Professional Assistant Blog

OCTOBER 7, 2008

But of course, you don’t want to disturb others around you with the bell going off or some even have chickens clucking as the alarm. Having a timer at your desk can be a great tool. This way, you will only have to focus on your project for that particular amount of time and not have to worry about other projects falling behind.

2008 100

2008 Cubicle Google Docs 2007 100

Professional Assistant Blog

SEPTEMBER 30, 2008

Do you even receive voice mails that are left by people trying to sell you something, but you didn’t even hear the phone ring? By The Professional Assistant on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 Filed Under: Productivity D o you receive junk mail, junk faxes and the occasional irritating phone call from telemarketers?

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Professional Assistant Blog

MARCH 10, 2008

In my weekly recap last Friday I pointed out a Lifehack.org article arguing that the current climate for hyper-productivity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. If I didn’t have a full day’s worth of tasks to complete I wasn’t being efficient enough. Until next time, T ake care - of your clutter!

2008 100

2008 Cubicle 2007 Google Docs 100

Professional Assistant Blog

SEPTEMBER 22, 2008

T here is a great site called OpenTable.com , which allows you to book reservations online with particular restaurants all over the world. By The Professional Assistant on Monday, September 22, 2008 Filed Under: Organize , Productivity A re you asked to make reservations for your manager(s) at particular restaurants?

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Professional Assistant Blog

NOVEMBER 8, 2007

See what you can change about yourself, don’t try to change others. At times, the person that conveys this tone doesn’t realize they are coming across in a harmful manner. If someone is making a difference by helping you or your teammates, let them know. Try to understand that change will happen, no matter what.

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Gossip 2008 Cubicle 2007 100

Professional Assistant Blog

NOVEMBER 20, 2007

This doesn’t mean that you have to go out for beers or go to a movie. I don’t mean take charge of the office – you might make some serious mistakes. Don’t whine and complain about every little task that is given to you. Don’t break your promises. Take some risks!

2007 100

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Professional Assistant Blog

MARCH 27, 2008

Until next time, T ake care - of your clutter! Save the new e-mail distribution list by giving it a name that this corresponds to whatever it is being used for. All e-mail distribution lists are bolded. Subscribe to The Professional Assistant feeds or get posts e-mailed directly to you today.

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Professional Assistant Blog

SEPTEMBER 3, 2008

Then he mentioned that he didn’t want all of the details of each product listed. I recently ran into this problem as well. One of my managers wanted me to use our sales tracking software to create the sales report for a particular product. He only wanted the total amounts shown as a bundled figure.

2008 100

2008 Cubicle Google Docs 2007 100

Professional Assistant Blog

MARCH 28, 2008

Heres a sample Thank You letter that you can use to get that dream job you have been waiting for: Your Name Your Address Your City, Province, Postal Code Your Phone Number Your Email Date Name Title Organization Address City, Province, Postal Code Dear Mr./Ms. Until next time, T ake care - of your clutter!

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Professional Assistant Blog

JANUARY 7, 2008

But don’t forget, some office fax machines require you to dial 9 before any numbers, so don’t forget that. I had the same trouble in the past, since I have to fax quite a few documents to clients on a regular basis. There’s a really easy solution to this. I found a great website called Time and Date.com.

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Professional Assistant Blog

JANUARY 15, 2008

You don’t have to do much to lend a helping hand, just go out there and join an association, volunteer or whatever would make you feel “balanced&#. I never thought that I’d want to be a Professional Assistant, but somehow it just jumped out at me. But that’s another story. Until next time, Take care - of your clutter!

2008 100

2008 Cubicle Google Docs 2007 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.

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Professional Assistant Blog

FEBRUARY 11, 2008

One of my readers asked me for some tips on handling annoying co-workers that don’t throw out their tea bags, leave used paper towels around the sink area or just leave their dirty dishes in the dish rack. Do you start wondering if they treat their own house the same way? You’re not alone. right away.

UPS 100

UPS 2008 Cubicle Google Docs 100

Professional Assistant Blog

FEBRUARY 19, 2008

I worked as an Investment Advisor’s Assistant, completed my CSC (Canadian Securities Course), but soon after, I realized that this wasn’t really for me. One thing that always bothered me in my last job was when I had my door closed, people would still knock and ask me questions that weren’t urgent.

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Professional Assistant Blog

DECEMBER 5, 2007

We hold meetings every so often (since everyone’s busy and can’t really figure out when these meetings work for everyone), but we do try to meet at least once every quarter. This is definitely good for sharing ideas and skills among teammates and other departments. Until next time, Take care - of your clutter!

2008 100

2008 Cubicle 2007 Google Docs 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. Taking stock We don't know what we don't know ► June (1) Playing nice in the sandbox ► May (2) Whose meeting is it anyway?

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Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Professional Assistant Blog

DECEMBER 17, 2007

I can understand that certain items need to be handled via e-mail, so you have a record of the matter, but if it’s something that doesn’t need to be recorded, such as asking the person where they would like to have lunch or how their weekend went. This actually happens quite a bit at my workplace as well.

Cubicle 100

Cubicle 2008 2007 Google Docs 100

Professional Assistant Blog

JULY 16, 2008

Until next time, T ake care - of your clutter! She is the largest share holder of the company, obviously. But she is very high strung and doesnt know how to relax even when among friends or on vacation. She can be very trying at times, just a very difficult person. I consider myself and have been in the past, to be an over achiever.

2008 100

2008 Cubicle 2007 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. Of course the simple solution would be to have the same password for every aspect of your life, but nope that doesn’t work. Back to the drawing board.

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Time Zones 2010 IAAP Filing 100

Professional Assistant Blog

AUGUST 14, 2008

Until next time, T ake care - of your clutter! By The Professional Assistant on Thursday, August 14, 2008 Filed Under: Productivity , System Security F orgetting your Windows password happens to everyone from time to time. Yes, even I forget it at times. Then you have to try to remember all of these passwords! When does it ever end?

2008 100

2008 Cubicle 2007 Google Docs 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 10, 2010

Posted by Patricia Robb at 2:34 PM Labels: 30 years of service , Administrative Assistant , administrative professional , professional service , quality service Reactions: 2comments: Jodith said. I could see him looking after himself, trying to organise his diary and all his emails etc, and he wasn't sure what to give me.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 13, 2010

By the same token, I appreciate it when someone lets me know by when they will have something for me and if they can’t have it done by that date, then I like it when they get back to me to say when I can expect it. So that is what I like, but it isn’t always what I get. I can only guess when I might get it.

Time Zones 100

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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! Lets enjoy our day together.© How can you keep focussed when there is just so much going on? Its the same principle in the office.

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Environment Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 7, 2010

They said it works with most phone services. I actually didn't know this and this is something I need because I tend to blather on a little bit and get carried away! :) February 12, 2010 Patricia Robb said. But, as I learned the hard way it doesn't work on all systems. Thanks Patricia! Thanks everyone for correcting me.

Time Zones 100

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Professional Assistant Blog

APRIL 1, 2008

Until next time, T ake care - of your clutter! Subscribe to The Professional Assistant feeds or get posts e-mailed directly to you today. Post from: Assistant Tips 4comments for this post Jodith One thing I find helpful when having multiple people performing file updates is to keep track changes turned on.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

MARCH 20, 2010

You hear something while walking down the hall or are copied on an email and know something about the purpose of a meeting coming up. Many times I am so thankful I had that quick chat or read that email that I was copied on as that was the exact information I needed when they were away. Lets enjoy our day together.©

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

AUGUST 22, 2009

Sometimes I need to do a job, but I can’t move forward until I get an answer from someone else. While waiting for the answer, you can go on to other tasks and bring this item forward another day to get it off your desk, but don’t let it go off your radar. Put it in your Outlook Tasks with a reminder to follow up.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 28, 2009

Taking stock We don't know what we don't know ► June (1) Playing nice in the sandbox ► May (2) Whose meeting is it anyway? I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service? That is pretty dedicated.

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Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 10, 2010

Taking stock We don't know what we don't know ► June (1) Playing nice in the sandbox ► May (2) Whose meeting is it anyway? I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service? 5, 2010 at 12 p.m. Dealing in real time.

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Professional Assistant Blog

FEBRUARY 12, 2008

Thanks Manish Posted on 23 October, 2009 1:20 AM The Professional Assistant Hi Manish, Unfortunately, I don't have any other answer to this except to resize each one individually. Posted on 4 July, 2010 9:05 PM The Professional Assistant Hi, Unfortunately, you can't change the size of the file, but you can with Paint or Photoshop.

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