Question: “Our store manager and assistant manager recently ended an extramarital affair after the assistant’s wife discovered it. Everyone at work had been aware of the relationship for quite awhile. Although they’ve agreed to stop seeing each other, the situation is still very uncomfortable. Our regional boss just wants the whole thing to go away. Sales have improved since these two started working together, so he doesn’t want to transfer either of them out. We’ve been told that any employee caught gossiping about the affair could be terminated. The assistant’s wife is furious that management won’t force a transfer, but she doesn’t feel that she can speak up. I would like to contact human resources on her behalf, but I’m afraid of getting in trouble. What should I do?” — Disturbed
A receptionist may be the first person whom customers and clients see. But co-workers and managers can easily forget the pivotal and skilled role receptionists play. As a receptionist, you know about more than making a good impression. Make sure you’re leveraging these two highly valued skills, which a good receptionist should have in spades:
Be prepared to answer two questions when pitching an idea or attempting to influence your boss: (1) How will the organization benefit? (2) How will my boss benefit?
Four sentences that need repair, along with fixes: 1. Subject/verb agreement. 2. Actionless, dull sentences. 3. Negative structure. 4. Comma splice.
If you berate yourself when you make a mistake, you’ll worsen the damage. But if you say, “I’ll fix this,” or “I sure learned from that,” you turn a negative into a positive.
Be ready to tell your manager how you’d like to grow professionally. In a recent survey, nearly half of all human resources managers say their No. 1 focus is continuing education for workers.
Giving a presentation? Speak in your natural tone. Optimism should flow from your authentic personality. If you adopt an artificially perky tone, listeners may find it grating.
You want to make every hour count, so you plan your day in 15-minute chunks and prioritize your tasks. That’s smart time management, but it doesn’t guarantee you’ll work productively. You’ll operate most efficiently if you banish aimless anxieties and the urge to procrastinate. Here’s a road map to boost your productivity:
When someone tells you, “I need this right away,” ask what he means, including day and time, advises Amy Garrett, a workshop leader for National Seminars Group. “You could be putting yourself under unnecessary stress.
Administrative pros looking for a way to stretch their skills often turn toward certification. But do the Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) and Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) ratings help you advance your career? Or command a higher salary? Are they worth the work and cost?
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