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According to MetLife's 2019 U.S. Employee Benefits Study, 23% of Americans with full-time traditional jobs intend to switch to gig work over the next 5 years. Another 14% say they are considering it. As the study chart below shows, younger workers more likely to say they're intending to leave their job for gig work than older workers. The reasons those with full-time jobs say they are interested in gig work are increased schedule flexibility, the ability to work whe
Past work experience is, of course, the most important part of your resume. It’s meant to show a prospective employer that you have all the skills required to do the job for which you are applying, and that you’ve used those skills before in a professional capacity. But what if you’re applying for a position that requires skills you didn’t gain through your past professional experience, but rather, skills you gained outside of work?
Meetings, meeting, and more meetings! In spite of all the technology, meetings have not gone away. Whether your executive is holding a virtual meeting or attending a virtual or live meeting, there are certain steps you can take to ensure you are properly scheduling meetings and making your executive’s life easier. As an assistant of 20 years, I had one perspective of meeting management.
Enjoy today’s Day in the life: Kara Tanenbaum, EA at Lakeside Project Solutions which is full of Executive Assistant Tips and Tricks. What are the main aspects of your role? I am the Executive Assistant to the President/CEO of a Facility Maintenance company and my primary responsibility is helping my Executive manage her 20% to ensure the […].
Forgetfulness is costing you time, money, and a ton of missed opportunities. In the age of automation, it’s easy to underestimate the power of a well-trained human mind. But memory isn’t just a parlor trick, it's a strategic edge. Human memory is one of the most underrated business skills. Whether you’re managing people, leading sessions, or having high-stakes conversations, remembering names, details, and concepts can be transformative in building trust, absorbing knowledge, and driving perform
Once upon a time, you imagined your small business, complete with a vision of a steady, comfortable level of activity. Chances are, you realized that was as good as a storybook fantasy soon after you opened your doors. The truth of the matter is, there is a definite ebb and flow of small business ownership. In the early days, you may find yourself with lots of time on your hands as you build your client base.
The post Oprah’s three questions for running effective meetings appeared first on Ian's Messy Desk. Meetings, meetings, meetings! Can’t live with them, can’t live without them. It’s estimated that on any given day in the USA, there are 11,000,000 formal meetings held. That works out to well over 200 million meetings per month.
The Federal Reserve recently released its 2019 Small Business Credit Survey. A key finding is the use of online lending sources by small businesses is rapidly expanding. As the study chart below shows (click to enlarge), in 2018 32% of small businesses seeking credit applied to an online lender. This is up from just 19% in 2016. The top reasons small businesses say they turned to online lenders is their speed of decision making and the view that they had a better chance of being fu
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The Federal Reserve recently released its 2019 Small Business Credit Survey. A key finding is the use of online lending sources by small businesses is rapidly expanding. As the study chart below shows (click to enlarge), in 2018 32% of small businesses seeking credit applied to an online lender. This is up from just 19% in 2016. The top reasons small businesses say they turned to online lenders is their speed of decision making and the view that they had a better chance of being fu
In today’s modern workplace, feeling overwhelmed by your workload is nothing unique. We’ve all been there. Some might say it’s the “new normal.” However, just because it’s expected, doesn’t mean you have to put up with it. By leveraging a few simple strategies to streamline your workweek, you can use your limited time more wisely. With a little Monday-Friday planning, you can make sure you’re focusing on the right priorities and accomplishing them, not just spinning your wheels.
Organization skills for administrative assistants are one of the most valuable skills to have as an administrative assistant. Without the ability to organize your work and your resources, you could be twisting in the wind in no time. You may have been able to muddle along back in the day, but in today’s competitive environment, you need to work any advantage in your favor.
Following Jennifer Corcoran’s fantastic LinkedIn session at the Virtual Summit a few weeks ago I thought I’d follow up with a post on how you can clean up your online presence before starting a job search. Social media has been part of our lives for over a decade now, and we all have a lot […].
We recently commissioned some research to see how committed smaller businesses are to traditional marketing in the digital age. The results indicate that traditional marketing is no longer a priority for many smaller businesses, with the majority favouring cheaper, online methods to promote their businesses. In fact, we found that over 76% of small businesses that took the survey, do all their marketing online, with only 14% still using offline methods such as advertising, events or direct mail.
In the climb from contributor to leader, the rules quietly change. If you’re aiming for the summit, the air gets thinner—and what got you here won’t be enough to get you to the top (a concept first popularized by Marshall Goldsmith in his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There ). What made you successful early in your finance career—technical accuracy, sharp analysis, flawless execution—won’t be what carries you to the next level.
The post Free or Low-Cost ways to reward employees appeared first on Ian's Messy Desk. Everyone likes to be appreciated! This sounds like it should be common sense, but it doesn’t always translate to common sense. This is especially true in non-profit organizations. There is something of an assumption that using rewards to show employee appreciation costs money.
The 2019 U.S. version of the Global Coworking Unconference Conference Series (GCUC) happened last week in Denver. Over 500 attendees showed up to discuss the state of the coworking industry and learn from one another. It was clear from the discussions and presentations that the state of the coworking industry is excellent. The industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, niche and independent coworking spaces are thriving, and the big coworking chains continue to expand. One thing that cau
I’m a huge fan of workplace routines. I use them on a daily and weekly basis, and I truly believe they play a major role in my productivity. Workplace routines are like rituals—specific, pre-established ways of doing things that need to happen on a regular basis. Most people utilize a variety of routines in both their personal and professional lives.
Managing multiple managers can be daunting. But that is the norm today. 90% of administrative and executive assistants support more than 1 person. It is a luxury if you only support one executive or manager. I know some administrative assistants who support an entire department of 60. However, they are not providing support every day to each person.
The most overlooked, yet most critical, element of transformation is preparing people for change. Automation and AI aren't just technical upgrades, they’re cultural shifts which can challenge identities. That’s why change management isn’t a side project—it’s the foundation. In finance, where precision and process rule, navigating change can feel especially disruptive.
Like most senior level Executives, your boss will be involved in lots of different projects, making the decisions and driving these initiatives forward. If the projects are not managed by a central project management office (and in smaller organisations, this is often the case), then you can add value by helping your Executive plan out […].
by Listen or subscribe here: iTunes ? Stitcher ?. Soundcloud ? YouTube ? Google Play You can leave a review here! ?. This is podcast 117 and it’s called Just do it! I guess I have to mention Nike so they don’t sue me for co-opting their slogan. Here’s some weird trivia for you. That slogan was inspired by murderer Gary Gilmore’s last words before he was executed: “Let’s do it.” Maybe “inspired” isn’t quite the right word there.
The post How to delegate effectively in the non-profit sector appeared first on Ian's Messy Desk. One would think, given the human-centric focus of most nonprofit organizations, they would be great examples of post-industrial leadership styles. Rather than a top-down management style they would exhibit the best traits of current, collaborative leadership.
CreditUnions.com's article 3 Ways to Connect Through Coworking Spaces provides an excellent example of how coworking is spreading across industry verticals and niche markets. The article highlights 3 credit unions that have opened coworking spaces. Key article quote on these spaces: Three credit unions are building their own shared space models that reflect each institution’s strategic approach to serving their field of membership while branding themselves as not only community lenders but a
Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.
April is Admin Appreciation Month, so today I’m sharing some tips specifically for all of you hardworking admins. As a proud, former executive assistant, I know how challenging your role can be. One of the most common frustrations I hear from admins goes something like this: “How am I supposed to be a true partner for my executives when they are so hesitant to release control?”.
Establishing rapport is critical to attaining successful business and personal relationships. While everyone must competently use today’s information technology tools, too many of us are ignoring the proven importance and effectiveness of interpersonal communication skills. That is why we’ve put together a list of the top 9 communication tips for executive and administrative assistants that are pulled from our certification and designation course. 1.
The most important aspect of the Assistant role is saving our Executive time. It is their most valuable resource, and everything that we do should be geared up to protecting and nurturing their time. In this post, I want to share some advice that I gave a few years ago around some of the areas […].
I’ve been spending a lot of time watching Highway to Heaven for the past couple of months. I’m not a particularly religious person but the show offers some strong messages that I think are valuable and we need to hear. There was an episode featuring Leslie Nielsen, best known for his work in The Naked Gun film series, who played a really awful rich gentleman.
Documents are the backbone of enterprise operations, but they are also a common source of inefficiency. From buried insights to manual handoffs, document-based workflows can quietly stall decision-making and drain resources. For large, complex organizations, legacy systems and siloed processes create friction that AI is uniquely positioned to resolve.
The post 6 Steps for Recruiting Volunteers appeared first on Ian's Messy Desk. Volunteers play a critical role in the operations of non-profit organizations and NGOs. For many organizations, volunteers can make the difference between successfully delivering services or program or falling short of their goals. However, it is becoming more difficult to recruit volunteers.
In case you hadn't heard, podcasting is booming. According to The Infinite Dial 2019 , an annual survey conducted by Edison Research and Triton Digital, more than half of all adult Americans have listened to one. And as the report chart below shows (click to enlarge), 32% of all Americans aged 12 and older listened to a podcast in the last month.
I am a lifelong learner capable of growth at all times. To learn more about affirmations and how to leverage them for career success, check out this article. The post Positive Career Affirmation #7 appeared first on Eat Your Career.
I recently received an email from Joan in her trademark professional encouraging style. I realize many of you received this email and maybe additional emails celebrating Administrative Professionals Day and our profession. Joan stated – Expand your mind; add to your skill set; challenge your thinking; look at your day in a new way; be a life-long student.
Payroll compliance is a cornerstone of business success, yet for small and midsize businesses, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of federal, state, and local regulations. Mistakes can lead to costly penalties and operational disruptions, making it essential to adopt advanced solutions that ensure accuracy and efficiency.
I write a lot on Practically Perfect PA about how Assistants should speak-up, have confidence and represent themselves and their Executives in meetings. This is often easier said than done, because, as we all know, speaking in public (whether that is in a session or a larger public setting) is hard. Most people don’t do […].
Starting a small business isn’t easy, but can be made less confusing with the right strategy in place for success. Below are a few simple ways you can properly plan for the growth of your business and avoid common issues that might arise with ineffective strategizing. Be Organized. Begin strategizing for your small business by first getting organized, whether that be with your physical space and office setting or simply with the way you function throughout the day.
I’m a big fan of Cal Newport’s writing and his books, especially his book Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. We’ve had several conversations about his working (and living) habits — he’s been a guest on my podcast on not one but two occasions — and his dedication to the concept of deliberate practice is something I am working on more than ever.
The Forbes article Breaking The Faustian Pact: What Motivates Professionals In A Gig Economy World? covers a study comparing the motivations of independent consultants with consultants working at big consulting firms. As the article chart below shows (click to enlarge), there are big differences. Key quote on the differences: " the freelancers emphasize the flexibility of when and where they work; their peers employed in big firms focus on financial security, personal development and having
Technical degrees might open doors—but it’s the soft skills that keep them open. In the face of disruption, evolving workplace dynamics, and rising expectations of leadership, soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and presence have become core business essentials—not nice-to-haves. Inspired by stories from her father coupled with her own career journey, seasoned executive Chandra McCormack breaks down how to lead with impact, connect with purpose, and cultivate a workplace cult
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