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Category: 1-Minute Strategy

One Minute Strategy: Effective Listening 

Interrupting is, at its core, a listening problem. It reflects a habit of prioritizing our own thoughts over someone else’s expression. Effective listening is a skill, and like any skill, it requires intention and practice.  Awareness  Start noticing your own patterns. Do you tend to finish other people’s sentences? Do you jump in when you think you know […]

A Commitment is a Contract – One Minute Strategy 

We all start out with the best of intentions, but let’s not rush into putting up our hands whenever we’re asked to do something. The most important question is WHY? Why do you want to take on this role? The second thing to determine is ‘Do I have the time?’  Before making that commitment, ask these questions:  Take time to consider […]

The One Minute Strategy: Take Back Your Time 

Workloads often expand faster than available time, creating stress and inefficiency. Here are five tips to help you understand your time and resource needs better.  1. Improve Time Estimation Most people underestimate how long tasks take. Track your daily activities for 2–3 days using a simple log. This reveals interruptions, hidden inefficiencies, and tasks that consistently overrun. Use […]

One Minute Strategy: Revamp Your Networking 

The way your relationships, career, and business evolve is the same way your networking can evolve. Restructuring your networking process may feel daunting, but it is a necessary step toward reaching your goals and achieving meaningful results.  Here are some simple ways to revitalize and re-energize important networking efforts.  Re-establish Your Goals  Restore Lost Connections  […]

One Minute Strategy: The “Five Whys” Technique

One of my favorite tools and one I use often is the “Five Whys” technique. Simple, powerful, and surprisingly effective, it is a method that helps us uncover the root cause of a problem by asking “why?” repeatedly.  Originally developed by Toyota as part of its lean manufacturing philosophy, this approach is now widely used across industries […]

One Minute Strategy: Four Steps to Negotiate with Confidence

Negotiation is part of the Assistant role, whether you are securing supplier rates, booking venues, or discussing compensation. Strengthening this skill builds confidence, effectiveness, and value for your organization. First, avoid common mistakes. Do not focus purely on price. Consider the bigger picture and overall value. Listen actively and respectfully so all perspectives are heard. […]

One Minute Strategy: Digital Declutter

When was the last time you gave your computer a proper clean-up? We’re all familiar with spring cleaning our homes, yet our digital spaces often get overlooked. A digital declutter can save time, reduce stress, and make you noticeably more efficient at work — especially when things get busy. The key is to keep it […]

One Minute Strategy: The Organized Networker

Successful networking isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, collecting the most business cards, or joining the most prestigious associations. It’s not measured by follower counts or how many people you know. Effective networking is about intention, organization, and having a system that supports meaningful, professional relationships. At its core, strong networking is […]

One-Minute Strategy: Utilizing Networking to Build Your Confidence

Networking is a dynamic tool for building relationships, enhancing your career, and advancing your business. As we continue to expand globally and utilize technology more efficiently, networking can be used to scale our connections, communities, and groups. Networking can also be a tool for building confidence in your career, relationships, outlook, and perspective. A Support […]

One-Minute Strategy: Unlocking Innovation Through Creative Problem-Solving

Administrative professionals are often the quiet innovators behind the scenes, solving problems that others do not even see. Whether it is managing conflicting priorities, coordinating across teams, or keeping workflows efficient, your ability to think creatively is what transforms obstacles into opportunities. Creative problem-solving (CPS) is more than a skill; it is a mindset. It […]