Essential Assistant articles from February 2003

Essential Assistant archives from February 2003

Tap your leadership potential. (Professional Savvy).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... As you begin taking on more responsibility, you also increase your chances of being appointed to positions such as "team leader" or "office manager." That means you'll need to hone your leadership skills. But how do highly effective...

It's time to stop procrastinating! (Skills & Know-How).
February 1, 2003... Do you find yourself constantly putting things off?. If so, you're not alone. Every one of us will occasionally postpone certain tasks, particularly when those tasks have little appeal. Still, those lengthy and somewhat boring tasks are a...

Learn to bend, not break. (Skills & Know-How).(flexibility in the office)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... An old story tells of a mighty oak that refused to bend before the wind--and was felled by it--while a young willow tree bent and survived. In business, as in the forest, inflexibility invites a risk of being uprooted. So you need to adapt to...

Don't let paperwork bury you. (Winning Edge).
February 1, 2003... Welcome to the Information Age, where messages bombard you with increasing speed, frequency and sophistication. Each week, you might receive 20 five-page faxes, 75 e-mails and 25 or 30 voice mails. One of the major by-products of this...

End your day efficiently. (Winning Edge).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The final two hours of the workday can fall prey to last-minute crises. Gain control of that time by earmarking those last hours for what's urgent. Here's how: * Set a beeper or watch alarm to go off two hours before you plan to...

Own up to your mistakes. (Winning Edge).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... You messed up. And everyone knows it. Recover from your mistake by taking responsibility like a leader. Follow these steps to repair the damage and recover your reputation: * Acknowledge the error you made soon after it occurs. ...

Test your knowledge of word hyphenation. (Business Writing).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... When you divide a word to justify a margin, it's important to divide correctly according to syllable--a word or part of a word that is pronounced with one vocal effort. You can't be expected to know the correct syllabication of every word....

Add spice to your office letters. (Business Writing).(utilize synonyms)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... If your office is like most, the same words appear over and over in memos and letters. When you write your next memo, try to come up with synonyms--words very similar in meaning--for overused words. Here's a quick exercise to help you...

Perfect memos in 10 minutes. (Business Writing).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... How long does it take you to write a memo? Instead of agonizing over every word, use these tips to crank out memos in minutes. * Before you write a sentence, ask yourself "Why does the reader need to know this?" That helps you skip all...

Present your data with pizzazz. (Technology Tips).(inserting charts into spreadsheets)
February 1, 2003... Spreadsheets are an organized way to display data, but sometimes, a spreadsheet just isn't enough. If you want to really grab and hold on to your audience's attention, display data in a more striking visual format by inserting charts into...

Gain more from teleconferences. (Technology Tips).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... People gain a lot of important information from others' gestures and facial expressions. Follow these suggestions to make sure your next teleconference allows for those nonverbal signals. * Seat participants at each location on one side...

Organize your Windows menu. (Technology Tips).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Does your Windows Start menu display so many programs you can't find the ones you need? Here are four strategies that will help you find the programs you want. * Rearrange the list. Open the Start menu, click on the programs you use most...

Bridge the `IT divide'. (Technology Tips).(information technology support)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Your Information Technology (IT) staff provide the technical support you need to meet your goals. But often, differences in work and communication styles create a chasm between IT workers and other staffers. Use these tips to bridge the...

Declutter your workspace in 1 day. (Your Health and Welfare).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Follow this four-step process to make your workspace shipshape today. 1. De-junk your desk. First, remove from the surface all personal mementos, plants, photos, awards, etc. Then move reference books, looseleaf binders and catalogs to...

Try these stress-busting tips. (Your Health and Welfare).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Taking a day off to chill out isn't an effective way to deal with workplace stress. Try one of these ideas instead. * Pad your schedule. Give yourself enough time to do a good job on each project, rather than racing through task after...

Quick tips to boost efficiency. (Your Health and Welfare).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... * Enter a start date in your calendar or planner for all big tasks. Inserting only the due date invites disaster. * Write a "get back to it" date in your planner if you need to stop working on a project in midstream. * Head the pages...

When a joke offends you. (Your Health and Welfare).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Use these tips to calmly and diplomatically show displeasure when a co-worker tells an inappropriate joke or story: * Don't laugh. Some people laugh at offensive jokes just to avoid confrontation. But even insincere laughter encourages...

Tips that will help you deal with a toxic boss. (Interpersonal Skills).
February 1, 2003... You know your co-workers' personalities won't always mesh seamlessly with yours. But work is especially stressful when the "challenging" person is your boss. How can you survive--even thrive--when your boss is oblivious to your staggering...