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  feedwordpress 17:38:01 on 2017/10/06 Permalink
  Tags: Admin Assistant Training, Communication Skills ( 28 ), creativity ( 21 ), Organizational Skills ( 18 ), Professional Image ( 19 )   

  How to Improve Your Presentation Skills 

  As you climb the corporate ladder, delivering a business presentation becomes one of the most important skills that you need to learn. A business presentation has to be informative, engaging, influencing, and entertaining at the same time. If one of these four key objectives are not covered well, the effectiveness of the presentation falls down immediately.

  It is a well-established fact that planning and preparation are the two steps that cannot be compromised, and are often not overlooked but most newbie presenters fail at the delivery step. Having a dull opening with a nervous demeanor might throw your audience into an irrecoverable state of disinterest. Showing that you are passionate about the topic and delivering the presentation with full-confidence is quite important.

  Usage of visuals can help expand horizons of your presentation for far better outcomes. If you open your presentation with a jaw-dropping statistics, the chances for your audience to pay attention to the rest of content go up, drastically. The audience tends to remember these figures for a long time and your views also find better acceptance.

  Check out this infographic from Malcolm Andrews to learn how to deliver a presentation effectively and improve your presentation skills. Also, check out various things that you should adopt on and also many others that you need to avoid while delivering a presentation.

  

  The post How to Improve Your Presentation Skills appeared first on Office Dynamics.

   
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  feedwordpress 17:05:33 on 2017/09/29 Permalink
  Tags: Admin Assistant Training, Writing and Grammar ( 5 )   

  When “Start to” and “Decide to” Creep into Your Writing 

  

  by Barbara McNichol

  Do you have a habit of starting a sentence with the word “start” or “begin”? In a 5,000-word document I recently edited, those two words appeared 14 times, while only five were deemed necessary to the meaning. That’s a lot of extra words!

  To be more direct in your writing, skip the “start/begin” part and employ the phrase Nike made famous: Just do it!

  These examples show how you can write a stronger statement by going straight to the action verb rather than “beginning” to go for it.

  Example 1: Slowly begin to approach your teammate with your idea.

  Better: Slowly approach your teammate with your idea.

  Example 2: Start to make an agenda for the meeting.

  Better: Make an agenda for the meeting.

  Whenever you write “start to” or “begin to,” question it. Ask: Is “start” or “begin” essential to the meaning of the sentence? Chances are you can glide straight to the action verb without it!

  Similarly, watch out for “decide to” in your writing. Which verb carries more weight in this example sentence, “decide” or “launch”?

  Example: The president decided to launch the company’s implementation strategy next month.

  Better: The president will launch the company’s implementation strategy next month.

  Do you see how “decide” doesn’t add meaning while “launch” is vital to the message? When you catch yourself writing “decide,” ask: Is it needed?

  Make crisp, clear messages your goal with everything you write.

  Barbara McNichol is passionate about helping administration professionals add power to their pen. To assist in this mission, she has created a Word Trippers Tips resource so you can quickly find the right word when it matters most. It allows you to improve your writing through excellent weekly resources in your inbox, including a Word Tripper of the Week for 52 weeks. Details at www.wordtrippers.com/odi

  

  The post When “Start to” and “Decide to” Creep into Your Writing appeared first on Office Dynamics.

   
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  feedwordpress 15:51:34 on 2017/09/28 Permalink
  Tags: Admin Assistant Training, conference ( 4 ), Self Development ( 57 )   

  Make Educated Decisions When Choosing an Administrative Conference (Part 1 of 6) 

  

  Since there are so many administrative conferences being offered, I would like to walk you through a series of blogs on how to select the conference that is right for you, gain approval and how to get the most for your investment.

  I am keeping these blogs to the point.

  A conference should feed your brain and soul!

  1. Start with the end in mind. What is your goal or goals for going to a conference?

  • Education wise? What skills do you need to grow? What new skills do you need to learn/develop? The problem with this is sometimes we don’t know what we need to develop. It’s called our blind spot.
  • To network and meet new people?
  • Learn best practices from peers?
  • Learn best practices from subject matter experts?
  • What is the value of the program? In other words, what are you getting for your money? Any extra events such as a welcome dinner?

  2. Inquire about the quality of the workshop materials? Will you be able to use them as a reference guide after the training? Do they provide robust information?

  3. Do your research. Make a comparison spreadsheet, if necessary

  • Topics to be covered – do they align with your goals?
  • Speakers
  • The flow of the agenda – is there time for networking? Hallway conversations?
  • Location/Dates
  • # of attendees (you may not always see this number listed on the conference website)
  • The pros and cons of large vs. intimate conferences.
  • WHO is hosting the conference? Are they on a mission to help assistants?

  4. Identify your learning style (and why that’s important)

  • High energy or slower pace?
  • Hands-on; experiential or sit and listen
  • Talked to or involved and be able to do activities with other attendees when a speaker is presenting

  5. What kinds of people do you relate to or want to be around? (This is very important. Who attends is just as important as the speakers.)

  • Low-key vs. high energy
  • Who are a step or 2 ahead of you or just like you
  • Passionate about the profession or it’s just a job
  • Committed to making personal change or someone who just wants to be out of the office and learn some basic stuff
  • Do you want to be surrounded by people who will make you better? Or agree with you all the time?
  • Do you want to be around sharp, professional speakers and attendees or ho-hum people?

  Be sure to look for the rest of this 6-part Series.

  Joan Burge

  

  The post Make Educated Decisions When Choosing an Administrative Conference (Part 1 of 6) appeared first on Office Dynamics.

   
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  feedwordpress 20:36:29 on 2017/09/11 Permalink
  Tags: Admin Assistant Training, Career Management ( 57 ), Interpersonal Skills ( 26 ), Motivators ( 28 ), productivity ( 38 ), Self Development ( 57 )   

  A Collage of Success Tips 

  

  I just got back from a great 2 day event called Success Live. Maybe you saw my Facebook post… or not. This event was hosted by Success magazine. I have been reading Success magazine for years and find every issue is packed with valuable information and tons of inspiration! Well, the live event was the same.

  I feel today is an especially important Monday to share these inspirational insights with you as we honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001 and think of the people affected by Hurricane Harvey and Irma this past weekend. In the midst of tragedy, we must never lose hope. If you are reading this Monday Motivator you must be ok so look for ways to uplift others. One way we uplift others is by elevating ourselves. I hope these people inspire you as much as they inspired me.

  From the ever-enthusiastic Brendon Burchard:

  • You must live each day with intention.
  • Refuse to settle. Raise your ambitions.
  • You must invest in your growth.
  • Jump in and face your fears.

  Pastor John Gray was hilariously serious:

  • You have to find your truth.
  • Success is about what we give away.
  • Will my name carry weight after I am gone?
  • Am I doing what I was created to do?

  Keith Ferrazzi said we have to have 3 people who have our back. The way we know someone has our back is they do all 4 of the following:

  • Care.
  • Work hard to make you successful.
  • Tell you the truth.
  • Let you know when you are not being accountable.

  The phenomenal Les Brown, who I have followed for years, always inspires:

  • Only surround yourself with people who are: positive, purposeful, contributors, and productive.
  • The imagination is a preview of what is to come.
  • Tell yourself, “No matter how bad it is, I am going to make it.”
  • Let go of toxic people or you will be dragged.
  • It’s not where you start, it’s where you are going.

  Simon T. Bailey:

  • There will never be a perfect time to become the person you want to be.
  • Rejection can be the greatest gift.
  • What you don’t deal with, will eventually deal with you.
  • Relationships are more important than money. They are the currency of the future.

  Please feel free to share these words in hopes of inspiring others. We need a good dose of hope and optimism.

  

  The post A Collage of Success Tips appeared first on Office Dynamics.

   
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  feedwordpress 16:25:06 on 2017/08/29 Permalink
  Tags: Admin Assistant Training, Career Management ( 57 ), Interpersonal Skills ( 26 ), Motivators ( 28 ), Problem Solving ( 27 ), Self Development ( 57 ), Stress Management ( 16 ), work life balance ( 6 )   

  12 Strategies To Help You Cope With Change 

  

  As I’m sitting here on Friday afternoon catching my breath from a very busy week and working on my speeches for our Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence, I am reminded how change is more prevalent than ever in our lives. In the past week, I have personally been through lots of changes; my staff has gone through changes; family and good friends of mine are experiencing change; and the world is changing every day. I’m not saying they are necessarily bad changes. In fact, I have been experiencing some wonderful, good changes. The idea is . . . it’s still change.

  I have been speaking on Thriving on Change or Optimizing Change for 27 years. Most of what I have said about “change” has NOT changed. I still use all the strategies I am sharing with you today and they all have worked in good times and in really horrible times.

  Change is a part of life. If you do not learn to cope with it, you will be swallowed up by the wave of change. Below are specific strategies to help you cope. You may find that some strategies work better than others depending on the particular situation. Try them all. They are effective.

  Anticipate

  • Guess where things are going, if you can.
  • Keep your ears and eyes open. Know what is going on around you at work, in your community, with your family.
  • Pay attention to national events, trends and current news. These could affect your employer’s industry, your profession, and your job.

  Prepare

  • Gather relevant information. Stay Informed.
  • Make specific plans for the upcoming changes so you feel more in control. Be active, not passive.
  • Play out various scenarios on paper. “If this happens, I will do…”

  Assess

  • How do you feel about this change? Why do you think you feel that way?
  • What happens to you physically when you think about this change? Do you tense up or feel a burst of energy?
  • How this change, whether self-initiated or not, will impact the 5 BIG Life Pillars: career, family, financial, spiritual and wellness. (Or which of these Pillars might the change impact the most?)

  Visualize

  • Imagine yourself in the new situation. See yourself positively on the other side of the change.
  • With change comes both danger and opportunity. See both, but focus on the opportunity.

  Accept

  • Don’t fight change that is inevitable.
  • Be flexible.
  • Get on with your life; don’t procrastinate.
  • Do something that makes you feel good, something that gives you a sense of achievement.
  • Learn to adapt as quickly as you can.

  Get Support

  • Share your feelings with a trusted friend or family member; someone who will let you cry or laugh, and who will listen. People can’t always give you the answers, but if they really listen, sometimes that is help enough.
  • Look for someone who will encourage you, who can lift you up, inspire you and spur you on.
  • Read inspirational and motivational materials.
  • If people offer to run errands or help in some other way, be open to assistance.
  • Seek spiritual support.

  Hang Tough

  Visualize yourself with your feet dug deep in the sand while waves of change come over you. They get stronger and the wind blows harder. Finally, the calm comes and you are still standing. You have survived the storm of change.

  • Be resilient.
  • Don’t play the “victim” card. Say, “I am a victor over my circumstances.”
  • As Robert Schuller says, “Tough times never last, but tough people do.” Tell yourself that you are strong and you will endure.

  Go Easy On Yourself

  • Don’t be too hard on yourself when you are feeling down or can’t adapt as quickly as you had hoped.
  • Catch yourself doing things well and reward yourself.
  • Take care of yourself. Enjoy outside interests and relationships.
  • Focus on what’s the best thing to do right now. Don’t think about everything that has to be done.

  Keep The Best Of The Old

  • Try not to make several changes at once. In other words, don’t change careers, move and get married (or divorced) all at once.
  • Cherish the good things or people in your life as you move through change.

  Keep a Gratitude Journal

  • Whether you are going through good or bad change, keep a gratitude journal on your nightstand. Each night before going to sleep, take two or three minutes and write about the things and people for which you are grateful. Even in the worst of times, you will find several things for which you are thankful.
  • Purchase all types of journals; make journaling fun.
  • Look At Change As An Opportunity To Grow
  • Tell yourself, “I am just stretching right now.”
  • Be confident that you will return to your old comfort zone or you will find a new one.
  • Tell yourself, “I have all the skills required to succeed.”

  Purposely Change

  • Make small changes occasionally to become more comfortable with change. Take a different route to work, change your seat at the dinner table, or sleep on the other side of the bed.
  • If you have children, create small changes with them so they will learn to cope with change more easily.

  How we respond to change is our choice. Sometimes at first, we respond with shock and immediate loss of hope. The important thing is to take comfort in that you can get grounded and actually make change work to your benefit.

  Wishing you a great week!

  Joan Burge

  “Change is not the enemy, but rather a constant force that occurs every day to shape the future and things to come.” – Peter R. Gerber

  Want great tips and information like this delivered to your inbox every Monday? Sign up for Monday Motivators!

  

  The post 12 Strategies To Help You Cope With Change appeared first on Office Dynamics.