Stacy

How Confident Are You Talking About Money?

November 5, 2015 by Stacy

As men and women, we all have a different level of understanding and comfort when it comes to talking about money. In some families, money is rarely discussed. In some college majors, money is rarely studied or learned.

As administrative professionals, we carry a responsibility to help businesses and governments succeed. I believe businesses and governments will be better served by having administrative professionals who can confidently talk about money.

To partner with executives and managers, administrative professionals should want to become more money savvy. This knowledge will help administrative professionals become more confident in having business-related conversations, offering recommendations, and catching errors. [Read more…] about How Confident Are You Talking About Money?

Dear Future Administrative Professionals

October 30, 2015 by Stacy

Dear Future Administrative Professionals,

You are about to embark on what could be one of the most exciting careers in your lifetime—the career of the administrative professional.

As you prepare for the road ahead, remember to never lose who you are in the months and years to come. Be mindful of your values, and don’t lose sight of who you hope to become. Be a friend to everyone around you by creating and nurturing relationships as people will be your greatest asset. Be confident and thoughtful in your speech. Support and build up your fellow administrative professional colleagues. Choose to be happy each day at work, and you will radiate a passion for the important work you do. [Read more…] about Dear Future Administrative Professionals

Claim and Promote Your Victories

October 20, 2015 by Stacy

You did it! You earned it! Now, shout for joy and share it with others. According to statistics, more men than women acknowledge their victories and share them with others. So, how can we (both men and women who work as administrative professionals) make it a priority to promote our successes? Actually, how can we afford not to?

I would be willing to bet you were more of a risk taker at the ages of 3, 5, or 8. You were probably willing to experiment and try just about anything. As we become older and more aware of the risks and dangers of new ventures, we tend to become more cautious.

The path towards success is rarely easy. In fact, risk can be scary and can take us out of our comfort zone. No wonder so many people choose to play it safe by staying right where they are with little or no progression. [Read more…] about Claim and Promote Your Victories

Setting Clear Expectations at Work

October 15, 2015 by Stacy

Good managers will keep their employees motivated and engaged by setting high expectations for themselves and their team members. A good manager will also lead by example through completing their own work assignments, being honest with others, keeping an open line of communication, remaining positive, and staying engaged at work.

Over the past 10 years, I have supervised an administrative support team while working as a CEO assistant. I will be the first to admit I had little supervisory training prior to becoming a first-time supervisor. I want to extend A HUGE SHOUT OUT to all of those on that early team who were patient with me! No book or training course can substitute for real-life experiences. As I look back and reflect on my “supervisory journey,” it has been an amazing growth experience. [Read more…] about Setting Clear Expectations at Work

Show Enthusiasm in Your Job Interview!

October 7, 2015 by Stacy

I have had the opportunity to sit on many job interview panels for employers who are hiring administrative professionals. What have I learned? A prospective candidate has just seconds to make a good first impression and minutes to persuade an interviewer to consider hiring him/her for the vacant position. There can be many qualified applicants for one position. Therefore, deliberate interview preparation must take place prior to the interview.

From my interviewing experience, it’s not the perfectly rehearsed answer to an interview question that persuades me to recommend a particular candidate. It is finding someone who will be good in the role and can “fit” into the corporate culture that ranks highest on my list when interviewing candidates. It is also important that candidates demonstrate confidence, evidence of skills and experience, and enthusiasm for their career choice. Work teams, businesses, governments, and customers will be best served hiring candidates who are good at what they do.

Work Partnerships Can Make A Difference

October 5, 2015 by Stacy

For most of my working career, I have supported and worked for well-respected managers and CEOs. I believe that the CEO/Manager and Administrative Assistant partnership is one of the most critical partnerships in business and government today.

My decision process for establishing work partnerships has been intentional and thoughtful. In the interview process, I have asked numerous questions, made observations, and listened actively so that I could evaluate a potential new partnership. I have learned that choosing the right partner is critical for my overall career satisfaction and work performance. To be effective, I have learned to align myself with individuals who share my same values or are supportive of values that we do not share in common. [Read more…] about Work Partnerships Can Make A Difference

Juggling: The Art of Supporting Multiple Managers

October 1, 2015 by Stacy

If you are an assistant who works with multiple managers or executives, you know the work can be overwhelming at times. For nearly a decade, I primarily supported one person—the CEO. However, after a recent turn of events such as staffing vacancies and promotions, I have found myself providing administrative support to several other key managers while we recruit for vacant positions.

Let’s face it—the work of an administrative professional is never ending. When you support multiple managers, the work multiplies! [Read more…] about Juggling: The Art of Supporting Multiple Managers

Attitude Is A Choice We Choose Every Day

September 23, 2015 by Stacy

Since February 2014, life has presented me with a series of unpredictable events: four top-level executive changes at work, an automobile accident, a loss of evening employment when my 16-year teaching career at Heald College ended after the Campus was unexpectedly closed down, new responsibilities at work, two car break-ins, changes within organizations such as IAAP, and more. The decade prior to 2014 was quiet with minimal unexpected interruptions.

At one point, I simply said to myself “Stacy, you have an opportunity here to turn what has happened into a positive over time. How can you move beyond these events and not remain stuck wondering why me?” [Read more…] about Attitude Is A Choice We Choose Every Day

Why Become MOS Certified?

September 14, 2015 by Stacy

When I began my career as an administrative professional, the technology I used was simple—a typewriter. The recognized certification at that time was a typing certificate. I remember working with college faculty to obtain a typing certificate to verify my speed and errors on a 5-minute timed writing, which I later used as evidence to demonstrate to a potential employer my typing speed.

With the advances in technology, administrative professionals in today’s workforce need to become more technology savvy. While my typing skills are still relevant as I key text on a keyboard, administrative professionals are using software programs today such as: Microsoft Office, Adobe, QuarkXPress, Visio, WordPerfect, QuickBooks, WordPress, Google Docs, FileMaker Pro, and more. [Read more…] about Why Become MOS Certified?

In Honor of Labor Day

September 7, 2015 by Stacy

What is Labor Day? It’s a day that honors the American labor movement and the many contributions made in honor of working people. Established in 1887 Labor Day is recognized as a public holiday on the first Monday in September in the United States.

My sisters and I decided to spend Labor Day weekend relaxing in Las Vegas, NV. We each hold two or more jobs and look forward to occasions when we can set work aside and vacation with one another. We absolutely believe in the value of hard work and planning for the future, but we also value spending time together and taking a break.

Some of the highlights of our trip this year included: [Read more…] about In Honor of Labor Day