Professional Assistant Blog

AUGUST 13, 2008

Home About Me Advertise A Great Outlook: Adding Holidays to Microsoft Outlook By The Professional Assistant on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Filed Under: MS-Outlook , Organize D o you often wonder how you can add your countrys holidays into your calendar in Microsoft Outlook ? In the Calendar Options section, click Add Holidays.

Microsoft Outlook 100

Microsoft Outlook Holidays 2008 Calendars 100

Practically Perfect PA

SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

Both times I’ve replaced my phone as quickly as is humanly possible because I am just lost without it (sometimes I am literally lost without it thanks to my dependence on Google maps to get me about London!). Although I still do print everything off this is a great app to have on your phone so you can check your details on the go.

Restaurants 100

Restaurants Travel Phones Calendars 100

Practically Perfect PA

SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

Both times I’ve replaced my phone as quickly as is humanly possible because I am just lost without it (sometimes I am literally lost without it thanks to my dependence on Google maps to get me about London!). Although I still do print everything off this is a great app to have on your phone so you can check your details on the go.

Restaurants 100

Restaurants Travel Phones Calendars 100

Worxbee

APRIL 5, 2021

Doing tasks that require focus during your own best time of day. So a better approach is to match the task to the time on the calendar when you know you’ll have the right kind of energy for it. Besides that, what would your day look like if a series of two-minute tasks came up while you were trying to work on a big project?

Calendars 52

Calendars Time Zones Email Management 52

Laughing all the Way to Work

APRIL 5, 2010

He will have a quick conversation with a staff member and set up a meeting, but not tell me anything about it. That makes it difficult when I am supposed to be organizing his calendar, but since I am responsible to organize his time and in spite of my frustration, I have to make it work. Dealing in real time.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Professional Assistant Blog

NOVEMBER 20, 2009

Your boss calls you up and tells you that you need to add an agenda to this meeting, but you don’t want everyone to get the meeting request again and have to accept/decline it. To do this, open up your scheduled meeting in the calendar that you are using and click on “Forward as iCalendar&#.

2007 100

2007 Agenda 2008 Cubicle 100

Practically Perfect PA

DECEMBER 13, 2013

Although I still do print everything off this is a great app to have on your phone so you can check details on the go. I use the website all the time, not just for planning travel but also for expenses, so it is helpful having the app on my phone. Meetup Time Lite: Free. Weatherbug: Free. XE Currency: Free or £1.49.

Restaurants 100

Restaurants Travel Expenses Phones 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

NOVEMBER 8, 2009

What dates and times does he or she have available (keeping in mind time zones for away meetings)? Secure the date and time in his or her calendar, taking into consideration travel time if outside the office. Follow up with the meeting organizer to request agenda and/or meeting materials, pre-reading, etc.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Calendars 100

Stephanie LH Calahan

NOVEMBER 8, 2013

No matter if you are crossing over multiple time zones or simply want to be able to go to the park and work outside, creating your freedom is possible. I like having a long battery life and having the full functionality of the Windows Platform on my phone. My calendar syncs with my Apple products as well.

2003 100

2003 Dropbox Fax Social Media 100

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. Dealing in real time. Minute taking made easier.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

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. A person I know does this all the time.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Etiquette Phones 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JUNE 14, 2009

My favourite to-do list is a calendar timeline so I can see at a glance where I am at and what I need to do to get there. It is simply using an on-line calendar with space on each day to enter what needs to be done. I feel confident as I check off each item that things will be done on time. No surprises! Choose New.

Agenda 100

Agenda Time Zones IAAP Calendars 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. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 13, 2010

If it is a big project I use a calendar and write down all my required to-dos on the dates I need to get them done to make my deadline. 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.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 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?" Dealing in real time. 411 Look Up 411.ca

PowerPoint 100

PowerPoint Time Zones IAAP 2010 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? Dealing in real time. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Office Dynamics

JUNE 27, 2012

The “oops” factor: If you need more than two paragraphs to cover your topic, you’re better off using the phone, or attaching a Word* file. Bonus fix: Using a separate field indicator (“Flag for Follow-up”) is better than pre-fixing subjects with “AR”. Pet peeve: Calendar invitations with attachments. Pet peeve: Fancy signatures.

Etiquette 100

Etiquette Filing Email Calendars 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. Come up with a plan on how you are going to improve in the areas you identified as needing improvement. Dealing in real time. 411 Look Up 411.ca 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 16, 2010

Doing too many things can actually waste time. Check: Are phone calls planned? For each one, write down what you hope to accomplish with the phone call to help you stay focused. Check: Is your software high-functioning and up-to-date? I run the outlook journal and it logs the time I spend with a given task.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 28, 2010

National pride -- all time high. 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. CountryCode.org is a comprehensive guide to make phone calls from anywhere to any country in the world. Dealing in real time.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 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 International 2009 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

FEBRUARY 7, 2010

A good tip if you flub up your voicemail is to press # and it should give you prompts to get out of it. They said it works with most phone services. Dealing in real time. ► January (5) Taking the time to acknowledge someone and say tha. 411 Look Up 411.ca 411 Look Up 411.ca Minute taking made easier.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 Meeting Minutes 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. They had enough time as they saw the bus approaching, they know they will need it, but time and time again, they are searching for it. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 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. Dealing in real time.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP International Meeting Minutes 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 10, 2010

Dealing in real time. ▼ January (5) Taking the time to acknowledge someone and say tha. I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service? ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!"

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

DECEMBER 28, 2009

Dealing in real time. ► January (5) Taking the time to acknowledge someone and say tha. I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service? ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!"

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Gifts Meeting Minutes 100

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. Dealing in real time.

Google 100

Google Time Zones IAAP International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JULY 9, 2010

By using the template I was able to accomplish everything with enough time to change, touch up my make up and hair and then off to the next event. Did I phone to get my electricity turned on? Dealing in real time. ► January (5) Taking the time to acknowledge someone and say tha. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays International 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. Dealing in real time. " Warning!

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2010 International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

SEPTEMBER 19, 2008

Another bring-forward and organizing tip my friend shared with me (that she picked up from another assistant along the way) is using two-fold folders, with inside pockets. My boss likes me to print his weekly calendar on Monday so he can see at a glance what he has for the week so I clip that to the front of the folder.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones 2008 IAAP Calendars 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

OCTOBER 10, 2008

If that is not happening, schedule yourself in their calendar. You want to keep up to date on their working life and all they have to do. Keep up to date on their calendar and look ahead to see what is coming up and what your boss might need to prepare for that. Dealing in real time. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP 2008 International 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". Dealing in real time.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP PowerPoint Email 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. Dealing in real time. 411 Look Up 411.ca

2007 100

2007 Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes 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. Talking about work all the time is not healthy for anyone.

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Holidays International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

MAY 31, 2009

Dealing in real time. ► January (5) Taking the time to acknowledge someone and say tha. I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service? ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!"

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Meeting Minutes International 100

Laughing all the Way to Work

JANUARY 23, 2010

Dealing in real time. ▼ January (5) Taking the time to acknowledge someone and say tha. I gave at the office Calendar "ah ha" Introducing The Administrative Bloopers Blog What ever happened to the "us" in Service? ► August (4) Managing your Boss's Inbox Nice ways to say, "Hurry up!"

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP AT&T Meeting Minutes 100

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. If you know what works best for you and if your job is 80/20 on what you like then you can put up with the small stuff like filing and filling out expense forms. Dealing in real time. 411 Look Up 411.ca

Time Zones 100

Time Zones IAAP Interviewing Holidays 100