A Great Day's Work

Partnership

Work Partnerships Can Make A Difference

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Partnerships can make a difference.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

Indispensable Assistants: Stay Focused, Calm, and Productive

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8036438_sNone of us knows how we will handle a situation until the situation is “real.”  We can plan, practice, role-play, and anticipate, but until the situation hits us head on we don’t know how we will respond as the emotion of a situation can create confusion.

Do you have a reputation in the workplace for staying calm and reassuring others when they become upset or unsettled?

Through reading leadership books and partnering with CEOs for nearly two decades, I have learned the importance of distancing myself from situations temporarily to gain perspective and to not take things so personal.  I work hard to not create or dwell in chaos by constantly trying to look ahead at the “big picture.”  I choose to be more strategic, explore different routes, and seek to find the best solution. [Read more…] about Indispensable Assistants: Stay Focused, Calm, and Productive

Hiring an Assistant: What You Need To Know

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32612325_sWho you hire as an assistant is one of the most important career choices an executive or manager will make during his or her career. Why? Your assistant is in a position that can elevate or deflate your career success and the success of the business. You don’t want to hire someone exactly like you. You want to hire someone who will complement you.

Having served on dozens of interview panels over the years and being a decision maker to hire many assistants, I have thought more deeply about what is most important when hiring an assistant.  You can send any qualified applicant to a technical class to learn a software program. You can assign qualified applicants to sit down with an employee to teach them company procedures and protocol.  What strengths are the most important: critical thinking skills, fit, people skills, personality, or soft skills? [Read more…] about Hiring an Assistant: What You Need To Know

Are You Using Meetings To Get Noticed?

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15404366_sWhether you are a presenter or a participant, meetings offer employees the opportunity to get noticed.  What meetings are you sitting in?  Who is sitting in those meetings?  If you have not given meeting attendance and participation careful and strategic thought, now is the time.

Meetings are a critical operation of business.  What’s interesting about meetings is that we can learn more by listening than talking.  However, if we remain silent and continue to sit in silence, our thoughts, contributions, and ideas are not shared or noticed among our co-workers.

From this point forward, I would like to encourage you to think differently about meetings. [Read more…] about Are You Using Meetings To Get Noticed?

Do You Create A Daily Plan?

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6305681_xlIn today’s competitive workplace employees are being asked to produce more in less time.  Many employees are also finding themselves working longer days and even bringing work home with them.  With hectic days in the office and personal commitments outside of the office, some employees find it challenging to find the time to create a daily plan.

For years consultants have encouraged employees to take the last 10-20 minutes of their day to get organized, clean off their desks, and to plan for the next day ahead.

At the end of each day do you dash out of the office or do you review the work that should be completed the next day?  Do you realistically estimate the time it will take to complete each task and prioritize the tasks by listing the most time sensitive or urgent task first.  Here’s a few tips that you can use for daily planning: [Read more…] about Do You Create A Daily Plan?

Money: What Men and Women Need To Know

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14877304_sLet’s talk about money. Chances are if you don’t have a good understanding of money:  how to manage it, how to save it, and how to grow it, you will take those same money management skills and behaviors with you into the workplace.  Would you run a business the same way you run your personal finances?  Many of you might say “yes,” and others may say “no.”

I’m a firm believer that knowledge is power. As an administrative professional supporting executives and managers, it’s essential that we understand money so we can better partner with our bosses in the workplace.  They often times have budgets to oversee, revenue goals to meet, and expenses to monitor. [Read more…] about Money: What Men and Women Need To Know

Executives/Managers: Hiring the Right Assistant

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17278244_sHiring the “right” assistant is one of the most important decisions you will make as an executive/manager. Trust me, don’t settle or your professional and personal life might start falling to pieces.

Invest the time and the resources to find the “right” assistant for you. Don’t hesitate to reach out to headhunters and recruiting firms. You may also choose to approach assistants whom you admire for their professionalism and work ethic that are already working elsewhere. Don’t be shy to use LinkedIn and your professional network to consider all the possible options out there so you can find the “right” assistant for you. [Read more…] about Executives/Managers: Hiring the Right Assistant

Meet RoseMarie, Former Assistant to John F. Kennedy, Jr.

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20140606_190440-2Over the past several months, I have had the opportunity and privilege to work and visit with RoseMarie Terenzio, John F. Kennedy, Jr.’s executive assistant from 1994 to 1999. RoseMarie is now the founder of RMT PR Management, a public relations and talent management firm in New York City.

It was a pleasure to connect with RoseMarie again this past weekend at Behind Every Leader in the Silicon Valley.  She’s absolutely delightful to talk with in person.

In a recent interview, I asked RoseMarie to share some highlights of her career working with John.

1.  You worked as the executive assistant to John F. Kennedy, Jr.  Wow!  Tell us what it was like to support John?  Being John’s EA was an amazing experience.  Every day was different, and I learned so much about media, publishing, and most of all integrity.  [Read more…] about Meet RoseMarie, Former Assistant to John F. Kennedy, Jr.

Getting to Know Your New Executive/Manager

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henry-ford-quotes_13768-5For nearly a decade, I have had the opportunity to partner and support CEO Ted Gaebler. Ted retired from his CEO role this past February. Joe Chinn, Assistant City Manager for the City of Rancho Cordova, was appointed Interim City Manager from February-June, and Brian Nakamura was appointed City Manager effective July 1, 2014. Over the course of the past five months, I have supported three different CEOs.

When supporting a new executive/manager, there’s often times some adjustments that need to be made, and those adjustments are often times made by the administrative professional. Building a new effective work partnership takes time, ongoing communication, and patience. This relationship is absolutely critical and should be a top priority! [Read more…] about Getting to Know Your New Executive/Manager

Gatekeeper Strategies to Save Your Boss Time

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7520435_sYour boss’s time is valuable and should not be wasted. Business and sales professionals, coworkers, and community members are becoming increasingly clever as they attempt to learn ways around the administrative professional so they can connect directly with the decision maker. Over the years, I have learned, tried, and perfected many strategies that administrative professionals can use in their role as “gatekeeper.” The “gatekeeper” is the person who has the responsibility and full authority to oversee access to the decision maker. Here are a few strategies I have used while serving in my role as “gatekeeper” to the CEO: [Read more…] about Gatekeeper Strategies to Save Your Boss Time