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Category: Productivity

What an ‘undercover boss’ can teach

Much has been written about the show “Undercover Boss” and what managers and leaders can learn from it. But managers aren’t the only ones who can benefit. Admin pros, who partner with those same managers and leaders, can benefit from glimpsing a business through the eyes of top brass. It’s a reminder of how to bring value to your organization.

Making key inbox messages stand out

Laura answers at least 25 calls a day on behalf of her boss. He has asked her to e-mail the messages to him, rather than write them on paper. “But he gets hundreds of e-mails a day, and he complains that his phone messages get lost in the shuffle,” she says. “How can I resolve this and make it simple for him and me?”

Sell your idea with benefits in mind

Got a great idea? Find the audience most likely to “buy” it, and sell the idea by touting benefits. For example, your idea for conserving paper might be music to the ears of an operations executive tasked with reducing overall waste. Sell the idea to him first, then strategize about ways to influence others.

Raising your personal stock price

As companies and local governments look for ways to rein in costs, administrative professionals need to perform like high-earning stocks. Raising your perceived value allows you to do more than hold on to your position; it helps you accelerate your career. Here’s how to raise your personal stock price:

Admin spearheads sweet relief to Haiti

As people around the world continue to send aid to Haiti, in the wake of a 7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12, an appointment coordinator at Imperial Sugar Co. recently joined the effort by arranging the donation of more than 5,000 pounds of the sweetener. Brenda Rose used her organizational and “powers of persuasion” skills to work through the logistical challenges of delivering pure cane granulated sugar to Haiti.