The Effective Admin Store Product Descriptions

Tip Sheet #1: What Do Managers Want From You

Description: Managers want you to practice PAR (no, I'm not talking golf). PAR is a term you can apply to become a problem-solving, solution-driven administrative professional. That is what managers want! Learn more in this tip sheet full of "secrets" that'll help you do better work on the job and advance in your career. You'll learn three ways to make your manager do the happy dance (figuratively speaking); how to use PAR to format your professional achievements; a five-step process to solve problems; and much more.

Product Details: 4 (8 1/2" x 11") pages of single-spaced information

Digital (PDF) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher

Tip Sheet #2: How to Handle Unrealistic Deadlines, Fit it All in, & Find Hidden Hours--Really!

Description: Time management is a skill that will help to decrease your stress levels and set you up for higher level assignments and possible promotion. If you're frazzled now, it'll improve your professional image too and make you look in control all the time (because you will be in control of your time). That's an admirable quality for any of your colleagues. Imagine them asking you how you get it all done in just eight-hour days and make it look so easy. Learn more in this tip sheet full of practical pointers that'll help you handle those unrealistic deadlines, fit your work all in a day and find those "hidden" hours that are very visible if you know where to look.

"I have been implementing the tips in the materials you have sent me and so far it works well for me. When I was still in my previous job, I started using one of the tips you mentioned in the time management materials. After two days,...

Today, my new manager gave my tasks in the morning, and before the day ends, he asks me if I have some feedback. To his surprise (and mine as well!) I have done all the tasks he had asked me except one because the person I was calling did not pick up his phone the whole day!

The time management materials have helped me manage my time in the office. Using the tips in the materials you have sent me, things have really improved."

Many thanks,

Margaret Medina
Executive Assistant

Product Details: 6 (8 1/2" x 11") pages of single-spaced information

Digital (PDF) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher

Tip Sheet #3: How to Get More Respect at the Office as an Administrative Professional Starting Today!

Description: How many times have you heard an administrative professional say that he or she doesn't get the respect at work that they desire? Maybe you have even said that, or at least thought it a time or two. What makes you feel disrespected at work? Being handed work like you have 24/7 to spend doing it? Having your suggestions overlooked? Being ignored at meetings? You can fix all that and more with the suggestions in this tip sheet. This publication is jam-packed with practical information to help you achieve more respect in the office as an administrative professional---something that you may both desire and deserve. And you can start gaining respect immediately. Read the tips, implement them, and start achieving respect and appreciation right away...and perhaps other perks eventually like salary increases, promotions, choice assignments and other extras at work.

Product Details: 9 (8 1/2" x 11") pages of single-spaced information

Digital (PDF) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher

Tip Sheet #4: Office Organization...Real Solutions for Administrative Professionals Like You

Description: Why organize your workplace? This tip sheet will tell you eight fantastic benefits from doing so. But right now, consider this single important reason: Office organization can make you stand out from the crowd of administrative professionals (or even if you're the lone admin in your office) as a real pro at your job. Who appears more efficient than someone who can put their hands on any item or piece of information in the office within seconds, literally? And not only that, but you (yes, you) can train and manage your manager and co-workers so that they can do the same (unless you like those frantic calls at home). This tip sheet is full of hands-on information that's all related to organizing the office. You'll learn 47 practical organization tips for the office setting to organize anything from paper to your desk to your supply storage closet. But that's not all. Read about organization tools and accessories, tips for organizing projects and tasks and much more.

Product Details: 9 (8 1/2" x 11") pages of single-spaced information

Digital (PDF) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher

Tip Sheet #5: The Basic Guide to Goal Setting for Administrative Professionals

Description: If you're an administrative professional who has trouble setting goals related to your work or to your career, you need to read this tip sheet. This is the ultimate basic guide to setting professional goals and personal goals specifically as an administrative professional. Never draw a blank again when it comes to listing goals on your annual performance evaluation forms. You'll learn about goal components, the seven things you need to know in order to set professional goals, types of goals, length of goals, how many you should set annually and much more. You'll read questions that inspire you to set goals and you'll read about specific goals for administrative professionals that you can list. And that's just some of the things you'll learn about goal-setting for administrative professionals. This tip sheet is even more comprehensive because it contains everything you need to know to set goals now as an administrative professional.

"Your goals setting publication allowed me to think of my goals from a completely different perspective and [this] was the first time in 20 years that I have not stressed over my annual review. I was prepared for it and in fact, looked forward to it."

Judy Santiago
Executive Assistant

San Antonio, Texas

Product Details: The PDF version of Tip Sheet 5 is 12 (8 1/2" x 11") pages of single-spaced information you can read or print; the audio is an approximate 54 minute narrated version of the same tip sheet in MP3 file format (12.2 MB) that you can listen to on your computer speakers (with your Windows Media Player program or download it to a portable MP3 player device). The audio comes with a related self-study workbook highlighting key points of the audio and providing exercises for the listener to complete. Such interactive participation drives home points about goal setting that just reading the tip sheet alone might not.

Tip Sheet #6: The Administrative Professional's Guide to Doing Research on the Internet

Description: More and more administrative assistants and executive assistants are conducting research on the Internet as part of their job duties and at the request of their managers. By learning how to do this well, you could be branding yourself with a useful skill and making yourself more valuable to both current and potential employers. This tip sheet teaches you how to do research on the Web. Learn how to find what you or your boss needs to know quickly on the World Wide Web. Plus learn how to check the credibility and validity of your Web research results. Nobody can tell you exactly how many pages are on the Web but most estimates put that figure in the billions. Use this report to learn how to find your needle (or research) in that haystack.

Product Details: 16 (8 1/2" x 11") pages of single-spaced information

Digital (PDF) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher

Tip Sheet #7: The Administrative Professional's Guide to Email Management & Email Etiquette

Description: Email is an established part of the office setting. And using it seems simple enough---at first glance. But the truth is poorly written email can stall your career or bring it to a dead halt. Likewise, not dealing effectively with email overload or managing your email can cost you precious hours (not minutes, but hours) in your day. Read this tip sheet if you want to learn how to use email effectively (that's the key word) and positively as a communication tool, as a personal and company image tool and as a productivity tool. "You have mail" are three words you want to enhance your career, not derail it. This publication is full of tips to use email productively and save you and others time in relation to it. This tip sheet will help you to manage your manager's email. And you'll learn exactly how to write an email and when and why to write email (or use an alternative communication format). Plus you'll learn the most common email faux pas' so you don't do them. Additionally, you'll learn if you even should use email with YOUR manager or supervisor.

Product Details: 14 (8 1/2" x 11") pages of single-spaced information

Digital (PDF) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher

Tip Sheet #8: How to Plan, Schedule & Set-Up Meetings Involving Your Manager, Yourself Or Others (Plus Meeting Attendance Tips)

Description: Been to any good meetings lately? Well, if you have not and you're an administrative professional then surely you've at least coordinated one this year. More likely you've coordinated dozens of meetings this year. That's one task that almost all (if not all) administrative professionals do at some point in their job and career. Do it well and you may or may not be remembered. Schedule, plan and set-up a meeting poorly and unfortunately lots of people will remember you, especially your boss. Make meeting coordination your forte with the advice and instruction provided in this tip sheet (particularly for those small to mid-size meetings that occur routinely on-site or locally).

Tip Sheet #9: What Administrative Professionals Need to Know to Plan and Set-up Large Meetings or Special Events

Description: Large meeting and special event planning, coordination and implementation is no small task for administrative professionals. Likewise it wasn't easy fitting everything you need to know or be aware of as an administrative professional doing this into a modest size tip sheet. But it's done. This tip sheet presents an overview of how to plan and implement large meetings and special events. Think of it is a comprehensive checklist with tips and steps for performing this duty---which you will encounter sometime in your administrative professional career if you haven't already. Learn how to take on this advanced task starting now. Preparation is key---for your career and for large meeting and special event planning. Here are the details you need to know, and shouldn't forget, to do it right (in both the eyes of your boss and meeting and event audience).

Product Details: Tip Sheet 8 & 9 are each 18 (8 1/2" x 11") pages of single-spaced information

Digital (PDF) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher

Tip Sheet #10: An Overview of Web Conferences, Audio Conferences and Video Conferences (Including When to use Them)

Tip Sheet #11: How to Plan & Implement Web Conferences (Plus Participation Tips Too)

Tip Sheet #12: How to Plan & Implement Audio Conferences (Plus Participation Tips Too)

Tip Sheet #13: How to Plan & Implement Video Conferences (Plus Participation Tips Too)

Description: Advances in technology give administrative professionals three more meeting formats to plan, coordinate and implement: Web conferencing, audio conferencing and video conferencing. If your boss or company is not utilizing any of these meeting formats he or she will soon. Count on it! This technology is not going away! Get an overview of all three tech meeting formats and learn the basics about them so you'll have a good foundation of what everyone is talking about. You'll be able to use these meeting formats too for meetings you have with other administrative professionals, staff members you're collaborating on projects with, even with vendors such as when you're planning special events. Plus your company can utilize them during special events and conferences. Start getting tech savvy by reading these guides before you get left behind with all the tech talk at your company.

Product Details: These four tip sheets range from 10 to 16 (8 1/2" x 11") pages each of single-spaced information

Digital (PDF) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher

Tip Sheet #14: How to Plan and Coordinate Domestic Travel Arrangements --- A Guide With Tips for Administrative Professionals to Use on the Job

Description: Travel coordination for the administrative professional is about more than just buying your boss a ticket from here to there while saying "charge it" to the seller you hand your company credit card to. Check your work with the suggested forms in this tip sheet and follow the other suggestions in it so you become an expert at planning and coordinating work-related travel. Plus learn how travel coordination affects you and your company. There is a LOT that can go wrong in planning travel for your manager, executive or other staff member. But once you read and utilize these tips you'll be proactive in preventing company travel mishaps. Don't take your travel planning skills for granted. Learn how to do travel coordination well today. Even if you're not yet using this skill, you could learn that you need it during your next job interview or application for a promotion to a higher level administrative support position. Travelers value the person who does this skill well. Make that person you.

Product Details: 19 (8 1/2" x 11") pages of single-spaced information

Digital (PDF) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher

Tip Sheet #15: The Ultimate Guide for How to Take Minutes and Notes at Meetings (for Administrative Professionals or Anyone Taking Minutes at Meetings)

Description: If your manager or executive recently asked you to take minutes at a meeting and your heart fluttered with panic, it's time to get a hold of yourself. Taking minutes at meetings appears scary at first glance -- until you know exactly what minute-taking really is and how you do it.

"The digital information on minute taking is proving very helpful to me. My supervisor was very pleased that I found this resource!"

Thank you very much,
Rebecca

In this tip sheet you'll learn what minutes are and what minutes are not; why minutes are useful and important (there really are some good reasons); what types of meetings you might take minutes at; who the attendees really are and where you put them on the minutes; how to prepare to take minutes (that's half the job right there); how to actually take notes for minutes at meetings, and how to type them up later to form the final minutes; plus lots more.

You'll learn some basic definitions for words like motion and quorum, and get some ideas to "troubleshoot" things that might happen while minute-taking that affect you and your job at hand.

"So often secretaries/assistants are pushed into taking meeting notes and sometimes are unfamiliar with the topic - or unclear as to what exactly constitutes 'minutes'. This [tip sheet] topic was a very effective tool in order to get the job done and feel confident in its quality.

...very informational - basically an 'everything you'd ever want to know' guide."

Sheila Minogue
Executive Assistant
West Des Moines, IA

If you've never taken minutes at meetings or never do this task as well as you'd like to, then this tip sheet should improve your minute-taking skills significantly -- whether you are an administrative professional or hold any type of position that requires you to take minutes for your company or organization.

"I purchased the Meeting Minutes [guide] because I was struggling with how much detail to include in the minutes. Very useful. Gave good reasons for what should be included and when."

Kathy Olson
Administrative Assistant
Madison, WI

Product Details: 23 1/2 (8 1/2" x 11") pages of single-spaced information

Digital (PDF) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher

Published in the United States of America

Tip Sheet #16: Office Ergonomics -- Learn How to Prevent Pain and Protect Your Health at Work

Description: You can't do your job or enjoy it, if you're in physical pain. Learn how even the job of an office professional can be physically taxing on the body -- regardless of age or how long you've been doing your job. Plus learn how to prevent bad things from happening to your body through practicing ergonomics in the office. Your future health could depend on your ergonomic practices now.

If you're an office professional, chances are you sit a lot. Sounds easy and painless. And you don't even break a sweat in your job, right? While the latter part might be true most of the time, the real truth is that sitting at a desk most of the day can cause you tremendous musculoskeletal disorder difficulties. Translation: It can become very painful for you in the long-term if you don't follow good ergonomics in the office – even if you feel fine right now.

For one, you can develop problems with your back. Other health hazards from not following ergonomic procedures can include visual fatigue, stress, neck ache, shoulder ache, a pain in your hand – or you can even get a pain in your butt, literally. And that's not all just a result of sitting. Everything from how you use a keyboard to what posture you use when talking on the phone can contribute to these health problems.

Read the tips in this publication to get informed about office ergonomics so you stay comfortable and safe on the job and off. This publication is for anyone who works in an office professional type position, which is especially relevant to administrative professionals (whether you're a receptionist or and executive assistant).

If you're an executive or an office manager, you have an even bigger reason to read this tip sheet: Not only do you want to stay healthy and productive in your office, job but you're in charge of ensuring that your staff you supervise and office operates under the principles of ergonomics. These principles directly affect your staff's productivity, job satisfaction, and even things like worker compensation claims.

And of course, if you came to this page for solutions to that nagging neck or shoulder pain or other ache you've been having, you most definitely want to read some of these possible causes listed in this tip sheet. It quite possibly can be related to what you're doing at work.

Product Details: 18 1/2 (8 1/2" x 11") pages of single-spaced information

Digital (PDF) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher

Tip Sheet #17: A Business Partnership Plan for Administrative Professionals and Their Managers or Executives

Description: By creating a business partnership with your boss, you become more efficient and effective in your job and role as administrative professional. Partnering is about performing your job better and creating an environment that helps your manager or executive do the same.

You'll Learn:

►What Partnering With Your Manager or Executive Really Means

►7 Benefits of Partnering With Your Manager or Executive

►What's in it for Your Manager or Executive - 8 Benefits

►Which Admin Professionals Benefit Most

►Partnerships Start at the Foundation - 3 Methods to Start Defining the Current Level and Foundation of Your Partnership With Your Manager or Executive

►Your Manager or Executive's Role in the Partnership - 7 Things Your Manager or Executive Should be Doing in the Partnership

►Where You're at Now - 3 Possibilities Described of Where Your Administrative Professional:Manager Partnership Relationship is at Now (or Not)

►What it Takes to Partner With Your Manager or Executive – Key Attributes and Skills

►3 Checklists That Help you see if Currently "No Partnership Exists," "You're a Step Above no Partnership," or "A Partnership Exists or One is Under Development."

►Tips for Approaching Your Boss About the Partnership Concept

►Three Vital Parts of Communication With Your Manager or Executive

►How to Choose the Best Communication Methods to use With Your Manager or Executive -- Three Key Points to Consider and Evaluate

►10 Principles for Communicating With Your Manager or Executive

►Plus Lots of Ideas for Partnering With Your Manager or Executive and Managing Up

Product Details: 20 (8 1/2" x 11") pages of single-spaced information

Digital (PDF) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher

Newsletter: The Effective Admin

Description: Content of individual newsletter issues varies, but overall you'll read...
►feature articles related to your admin career or job performance
►short, practical tips for usage in your job duties and admin career
►relevant news, such as research or trends related to the administrative profession
►interviews with other admin professionals
►spelling, grammar and punctuation tips
►responses by other admins to forums/survey questions

"I finally found time this morning to wrap up some training I've been doing and to read the latest edition of The Effective Admin Newsletter. This is the first newsletter I have received and I was VERY impressed with both the content and the layout. What was more impressing was how after reading this I could immediately put several items to use. Thank you so much for creating and publishing such a great newsletter!"

Michele Ritchie
Executive Administrative Assistant

Product Details: Each issue is 8 (8 1/2" x 11" paper size) pages. It's published electronically 8 times per year. As each issue is released subscribers receive a username and password stating where to download the current issue. The newsletter is digital (PDF file) Read with Adobe Reader version 5.0 or higher. You'll receive access to your first issue immediately upon completing your subscription order.

"I really enjoy this newsletter! The articles lead me to things I wasn't aware of and remind me of standards that can be forgotten with time."

Danielle J. Turner
Executive Assistant

Suwanee, GA

NOTE: In the archive issues of The Effective Admin Newsletter included in the "An Effective Admin VIP" package, you'll learn...
√...the importance of managing and not crossing confidential boundaries (including 4 expert techniques for administrative professionals to maintain confidences and not answer "tough" questions). This is important information for any administrative professional but especially useful knowledge for executive assistants.
√...ways to communicate deadlines to colleagues (and learn why your colleagues may be ignoring your deadlines and requests in the first place and how to fix this -- it's not because you're the admin).
√...two tips for better e-mail communication (including when you should reach for the telephone instead).
√...what colors of clothing are always appropriate to wear to work in an office setting so you stand out as a professional. (or blend in -- whichever way you prefer to see it).
√...a tip about how to organize your email inbox messages with color.
√...five tips to use when talking to difficult people during difficult times -- without escalating the situation. (You can talk to those hard to get along with or hard to understand co-workers and customers much easier with this method.)

√...two ways you might be letting others impact your workplace productivity and work day satisfaction.

√...three things at work that might be causing your neck and shoulder to ache.
√...what's the employment outlook for secretaries and administrative assistants in the U.S.
√...what to do when your manager or executive tells you to go to a meeting in his or her place. This is a high level responsibility for an administrative professional. Don't blow it!
√...the right way to make business introductions. Administrative professionals probably make as many or more introductions than any one employee in the office -- because you're on the frontline greeting and escorting guests. Learn the specific business etiquette for this.
√...a tip to write better correspondence, reports or any document that also reduces your word count. People have short attention spans. Get your message across quickly.

√....what one expert says about crying at work.
√...how to cope with the tasks you must do that you consider boring (because not every admin task is exciting -- but most are necessary to office operations and your boss's goals).
√...how to let your non-admin or other colleagues know when you're already on project overload and can't say "yes" to another project (yet you have trouble saying "no" too.)

√...how to work remotely with an on-the-road employer.
√...a unique team building/entertainment event suggestion (useful if your admin duties include event planning).
√...grammar help: correcting dangling modifiers.
√...tips for leaving "good" voice mail messages. Administrative professionals don't just take messages; they also leave them for others and some do so better than others. Do it right.
√...a strategy for determining computer errors (how you got them so you can get rid of them).
√...pros and cons of working with no door (how and why to work "the cube" to your advantage).
√...why you shouldn't scrap the cover letter in your admin job search.
√...what workplace flexibility means to you as an administrative professional and why it's important in your admin role.
√...what skills hiring managers look for in employees that are relevant to administrative professionals.
√...an exercise to help you fine-tune your professional image and how others see you in the office.
√...how you can survive stress at the desk - Crises come with the administrative support job and stress comes with crises. Learn to manage it.
√...when working well under pressure is a bad thing for you (and this doesn't refer to your health consequences).
√...if the punctuation mark goes inside or outside the quotation marks.
√...telephone etiquette: what to do instead of putting callers on hold indefinitely.
√...what your manager really wants you to do.
√...10 principles to get what you want at work and in your career.
√...how to get useful feedback in your performance appraisal sessions.
√...how to schedule multiple people for those meetings you're coordinating.
√...how to get those hold-outs there who say they can't make it to the meeting you're trying to schedule for your boss.
√...about balancing your work and personal life in a 24/7 world (Just where is your time going?).
√...if your new to your admin job, that you must ask your manager this right away.
√...how not to make a bad example at the office when you're not even there. (Don't ruin your professional image you've worked so hard to create while you're on vacation or out sick.)
√...how to become more successful at multitasking (It's not always efficient to multitask but it's necessary sometimes for administrative professionals to do so).
√...the value of administrative support staff meetings - how to make your next meeting of admins productive.
√...how to deal with drudge work (because even administrative professional jobs have some).
√...tips to plan for participation in your performance appraisal (don't sweat about it -- plan).
√...about your health at work and preventing weight gain.
√...one reason you might procrastinate (helpful to be aware of if you're trying to manage your time better).
√...how to safeguard your credit due (so someone else doesn't steal your show and hard work -- leaving you with nothing to show but mounting anger).
√...e-mail load and management strategies (a survey response from an administrative professional that might help you with this topic).
√...one way you can receive and send faxes without a fax machine (it's not magic).
√...a method to find specific past messages in your e-mail inbox in Microsoft Outlook.
√...a way to find paper files faster.
√...how to be a better listener.
√...where to stand or sit at meetings to command more focus and visibility.
√...easy ways to establish your credibility in the workplace.
√...grammar tips such as should you use the "serial comma" in a series.

√...and much more, including √some tips from your own administrative professional colleagues √PLUS one on one advice from the admin pro coach in response to your admin colleagues' dilemmas and issues they write in about. (And just so you know ... there is an "in this issue" index on page one of every newsletter issue listing the major articles in each newsletter issue -- so you can easily locate just the articles you want to read at any time.)