Admins: Treat yourself April 25
Don’t wait for someone to celebrate you this year on Administrative Professionals Day. Reward yourself—because you deserve it—by seeking out a growth opportunity.
What should we do about co-worker’s chronic tardiness?
Question: “In our four-person office, one employee is habitually late every morning. The rest of us work a full eight hours, so we are tired of her tardiness. Otherwise, we all get along fine. Our boss doesn’t see us arrive, so he has no clue that she is always late. We believe she is taking advantage of this situation. What should we do?” —Punctual Co-workers
Feel stuck? Go ‘Oblique’
In 1975, producer Brian Eno and artist Peter Schmidt published a set of 100 cards each containing a single question or “brain bomb” to push them out of their mental rut.
Give kudos at staff meetings
Food & Friends has a low turnover rate (more than 70% of employees having been with the nonprofit for at least five years). Among the firm’s retention strategies: “Kudos” are read at weekly staff meetings.
Time sheets and shortcuts
Rachelle asks: “I would like to set up excel spread sheet to track my hours for work but can’t figure out how to set it up, can someone please help!” There are several great templates on Office Online which you can access with File (or Office Button) New and looking for templates on Office Online. […]
Everybody learns every way
Forget the theory about “learning styles.” Instead, mix things up when you teach or coach.
Got a complaint? Before you speak, remember ‘trait transfer’
Beware of “spontaneous trait transfer,” whatever you say about other people (“She’s brilliant, funny, a slacker, rude, hard-working…”) shapes the way people see you. So, if you must complain, try to frame your observation in a problem-solving, positive way.
Beef up productivity with 4 good habits
Jason Womack, author of Your Best Just Got Better: Work Smarter, Think Bigger, Make More, offers up a few easy tips for creating the habits that will help you knock out your to-do list:
How to get that raise you want
“Is anyone receiving raises?” That’s what one admin asked recently. “I’ve been told performance reviews will be coming up soon. I want to be prepared. How do you bring it up? How do you know how much to ask for? I’d like to stay in this position, but I’m only making ends meet.”
Set a ‘no whining’ rule in your cube
Tired of an incessantly negative co-worker? Post a “No Whining” sign for others to see when they enter your work space.