Arrange an escort
Instead of sending a visitor alone down the hallway, escort him yourself or ask a colleague to accompany him.
Year: 2011
Best career advice is also the most memorable
We asked, you answered. Moms, neighbors, mentors and bosses have all been the dispensers of great career advice. Among admins’ favorite bits:
“If you don’t know how to do something, admit it, but then offer to learn.”
“Don’t do something for the sake of doing it; do it with pride as it is a reflection upon who you are.”
“Don’t try to make someone be a mind reader.”
“It’s easier to edit than to write, so don’t be discouraged when people mark up your drafts—it’s to be expected!”
“Fifteen percent of your success will be determined by your knowledge of the business, 85% by the relationships you form.”
“Accuracy is more important than speed … it takes longer to fix mistakes than to do it right the first time.”
And the ever-popular … “Do what you love!”
“If you don’t know how to do something, admit it, but then offer to learn.”
“Don’t do something for the sake of doing it; do it with pride as it is a reflection upon who you are.”
“Don’t try to make someone be a mind reader.”
“It’s easier to edit than to write, so don’t be discouraged when people mark up your drafts—it’s to be expected!”
“Fifteen percent of your success will be determined by your knowledge of the business, 85% by the relationships you form.”
“Accuracy is more important than speed … it takes longer to fix mistakes than to do it right the first time.”
And the ever-popular … “Do what you love!”
Make the most of that conference
At your next professional conference, balance the time spent in formal sessions with informal time talking to others in your field. Three ways to reap the benefits of a conference, beyond the tracks:
Proofread faster
Proofread faster by using two columns per page rather than full-page width. It requires less horizontal scanning and often reduces the page count.
How to talk to a company VIP
At some point, it will happen: Suddenly you’ll find yourself face-to-face with the company CEO, with a few brief minutes to make your best impression. What will you say? Here’s fodder for just those occasions:
Be grateful
Start your long-awaited journel with this three-minute entry: Today, I’m grateful for …”
Spendthrift bosses set demoralizing double standard
Question: “Employees in our small company have been told that we will get no raises because sales have dropped off. However, the three owners keep spending money like there’s no tomorrow. These men drive company cars costing over $100,000 apiece, take their wives and girlfriends to Europe at company expense, and pay big bucks for a VIP box at the stadium. They also charge their kids’ cell phones and computers to the business. They tell us to cut back, yet they keep flaunting their spending. Do they think we won’t notice the double standard? No money for us, but plenty for them. Most employees think the owners are lying about low sales to avoid giving raises. Can we do anything to stop this or should we just leave?” —Offended Workers
Write a killer e-mail newsletter: 8 tips
E-mail newsletters remain one of the most effective ways to build relationships with customers. For proof, look no further than the recent popularity of Groupon. If you’re asked to develop an e-mail newsletter, keep in mind these tips:
Dating game
Prevent e-mail confusion by substituting actual dates for “tomorrow” or “today” in your text; your recipient might not read the message for several days.
Do perfectionists make better writers?
Paradoxically, being a perfectionist could get in the way of your ability to polish your business-writing skills. One professor at Smith College, Randy O. Frost, has studied perfectionism for years. He believes that perfectionists avoid writing tasks, procrastinate about them, and avoid having others review their work—all of which hinder improvement.