Rants, Raves, and General Observations

Posts from Sound Off

Technical Issues?

Have you ever had a technical issue (monitor fried, computer virus, phone system down, internet out... etc.,) that interfere with your normal work day? If so,what happened and how did you work around the problem?  http://www.deskdemon.com/community/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=demon&Number=68292&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&part= Posted by gee4 04/02/09 02:44 AM Working Relationships - Your Boss and You      We have touched on this briefly in a recent posting and I just thought we could explore it further. I for one do not seem to have ever had the working relationships that many of you seem to have with your bosses and line managers. For whatever reason, be it culture, policy or just down to the individuals themselves, I have always found my relationship with any boss a professional one. Perhaps that is due to the fact that I have faced redundancy and therefore have not been in any one company longer than 2, 3 or 5 years to establish a more deep-rooted working relationship. I am a very private person, unlike others in my current company who like to hear themselves speak and involve themselves in everyone's business. For me I am here to work and so my relationship with my boss is about work. That said I have always found my bosses to be private themselves whereas other secretaries and bosses seem to be a bit more personal with each other. Again that may come with a long-standing history of working with each other or perhaps they communicate better. One of my last bosses was a nightmare (the bully) and no matter what I did to try and establish a better working relationship and help him, he didn't want to know. At interviews we are often asked, how do do you deal with a difficult boss? I always feel you can try ways of initiating a good working relationship but it is not always accepted and life can therefore be difficult. I would be interested to hear your comments on this and whether you think your relationship with your boss should be more than just a professional one, or do you think things work just fine. I think I have found it very difficult due to being down-trodden by other bosses in the past. It therefore makes me sit back a little instead of being pro-active at times. What do you think?  http://www.deskdemon.com/community/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=admins4admins&Number=67921&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&part=

New Entry on DeskDemon

Choosing a Home Office Printer: Inkjet versus Laser
While making the right choice of printer seems like a daunting task, your major decision may be between an ink jet and a laser printer. Here's what you need to know. more…

Reposting something I wrote many years ago.

I wrote this a few years ago, and thought I would repost it here...

What To Do When You Get Caught Surfing By The Boss!
By Susan Silva

It has been a long morning and you need a mental break.  You start thinking of your weekend plans and jump on your messaging program to make plans with a friend.  You have the movie times and a chat box up on your screen and what happens, your supervisor walks up behind you!  You think to yourself Murphy's law is in full effect.  What do you do when you get busted surfing or chatting at work?  The situation all depends on how you react and handle yourself.  Here are some helpful techniques/excuses you may be able to use:

1. I am looking for a job that pays more money. (the defensive excuse)

2. Oh no! I need IT to come out, I have a blinking light that wont go away. (the play dumb excuse)

3. Keep your company website minimized and maximize it fast when the boss comes by and admit you want to learn more about the company. (the cover-up!)

4. You were investigating stuff for a surprise party you were planning on throwing for (who ever just walked in) and now the plans are ruined, way to go! (the guilt factor)

5. I was just comforting a friend who lost a relative to bovinexctrementitis. (the compassion excuse)

6. If you are lucky enough to hear someone behind you, ctrl/alt/dlt and enter to lock the comp when the boss walks up, then immediately turn to him and start discussing whatever project he has you working on. (the get-a-way)

7. Look happy and say "Wow, I have my answer! That chatroom (close your chat so they don't see SWM-30ish saying hi) or website solved my formatting issue. (the seriously it was work.. I swear not goofing off excuse)

8. Just leave your surfing up, know you get your work done, and just keep surfing. (the who-cares who sees, no excuse excuse!)

9. Keep DeskDemon up and show your boss you surf useful business/work related sites! (the best excuse!)

Most of us surf and take breaks during the day. If we do our work well and get it done when we are supposed to, surfing is much less an issue. Remember don't abuse surfing have fun and make use of the vast amount of resources on the Internet!

Latest Updates On DeskDemon

Here are a few updates from DeskDemon.

From DeskDemon US

Dress for an Interview - Top Ten Tips
First impressions are important in the job interview. Research has shown that the first 100 seconds are crucial in determining the interviewer's perception of the candidate's suitability for the position. more…




10 Creative Uses for E-cards
E-cards are economical, efficient, and effective. Consider using an e-card in one of these ten creative ways the next time life calls for a greeting.     more…

The Jungled Workplace
Don’t get caught off guard and allow yourself to be taken advantage of. In business world if you're weak and give in to your weakness, you'll be eaten alive. Here are three tips to survive the system.     more…


                                
 Memory Techniques to Get Ahead in Life
Photographic Memory is not inborn but rather it is a skill that anyone can acquire. Here are various types of photographic memory techniques to hone your memory skills.     more…




 Business Ethics Is All About Your Character
Business ethics is a hot topic. Read how two businessmen demonstrated their character when they thought no one else was looking.     more…



Warning:  Hacking virus spreads to 8 Million computers
A new sleeper virus that could allow hackers to steal financial and personal information has now spread to more than 8 million computers and  is  said to be one of the most serious infections ever seen, by industry experts.     more…

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From DeskDemon UK:

 
Looking for a no-fuss conference call service?
Arranging conference calls doesn’t have to be costly or time-consuming. Powwownow’s Enhanced Access service is so easy even bosses can use it – and it’s free. Plus, are you the only honest PA? See our poll results. more… 


Win a weekend in London
You and a companion could win a weekend in a 5 star London Marriott hotel including meals. We simply ask you to review Marriott's new Day Delegate Package. more… 



Seed Change on Green Office Week
Office-expert Avery has launched the first ever Green Office Week. Find out how the week can help to empower you to do your bit for the environment. more…
 


An all-inclusive meetings offer that's bursting in value!
If you're feeling the squeeze, then why not take advantage of our all-inclusive meetings offer, available at ANY UK Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn or Express by Holiday Inn. more…



The Main Event 2009

SECC, Glasgow, Thursday 12th March, 2009, 9.30am - 5.30am Scotland's only event dedicated to corporate events, hospitality and entertainment. more…

What is new for DeskDemon..

Corporate Reward & Incentive Cards
Organizations across the country are recognizing the benefits of non-traditional reward programs for their employees. Learn how gift cards can be used in the workplace.     more…

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RealSpace Furniture
Is your office ready for a makeover? Office Depot's newest furniture collection offers fashionable designs at affordable prices. There's something to suit every budget and every design style.     more…

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Skills a Virtual Assistant Needs to Insure a Full Practice
From website management, to product development and marketing, the more you know the more money you can make the more recognition you can earn.     more…

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You Can Color Your Way To Success
If you can manage to identify someone's personality color then you'll be able to talk to that person the way they need to be talked to.     more…

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The 7 Deadly Sins Of Voice Mail To Watch Out For
We’ve all been guilty of leaving hasty, confusing voicemails, but you can easily avoid the 7-Deadly Sins of Voice Mail and give yourself a much better chance of having your phone call returned.     more…

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How to Clean a Printer
Paper jams, smudges and general poor quality printing causing you frustration and headaches? A wet rag and a few minutes of your time could mean the difference in poor print quality and a clean page. But there are a few finer points to remember.     more…

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Make a Difference this Holiday Season
For the third year running, DeskDemon is advocating Adopt-a-Family to our users. Adopt-a-Family is a program whereby companies and individuals, through charities, support disadvantaged families. Talk to your manager and incorporate Adopt-a-Family into your organization more…

From  the  UK

Stay safe & healthy in the office
The statistics of occupational injuries and stress related incidents in the UK are frightening and cost business over £5 billion annually. Injury prevention starts with prevention awareness and we have top tips from Purus Active Health Ltd, London’s leading back pain and sports injury clinic on staying safe and healthy in the office.     more…

Management Support Fellowship Award Winners

We are proud to announce our two winners for this prestigous award:

US Winner:

DeskDemon Announces Winner of Management Support Fellowship

Those who know the job the best, voted for the best…
and the winner is Marie Herman from Fermilab National Accelerator Lab

2008 has been an exciting year for the participants in the first ever Management Support Fellowship Awards at DeskDemon.com, Marie, as overall winner of this prestigious accolade will receive a fabulous first prize of $15,000 prize for the achievement.

The winner of this prestigious award, Marie Herman said: "It is such a great honor to be selected for this award. I am particularly pleased because it reflects the opinions and vote of confidence of my peers. This is a tremendous accomplishment and I am very honored that I was selected."

Marie supports the Head of the Technical Division as well as several Associate Heads and other Headquarter staff. It is normal for Marie to deal with meeting coordination, travel arrangements, PowerPoint presentations, and proofreading as well as traditional admin tasks. Some of Marie's achievements include being asked to train others in her company on computer skills, review and recommending changes to an internal suggestion box project that in turn lead to a better final product. Marie mentors her peers and has successfully conducted workshops and seminars. Marie regularly contributes to DeskDemon’s forum boards and helps many with her Microsoft Office knowledge. She truly is an unsung hero of the admin world.

In addition to the first prize of $15,000, a further $2,500 has been awarded to the person who nominated her, Lisa Olson, adding an extra dimension to the exciting build up to the finals.

DeskDemon, launched in August 2000, is the world's largest online community specifically designed for Executive Admins, Executive Assistants, Secretaries, Administrators and Office Managers. Since its foundation the company has gained a deep understanding of its audience and continues to provide them with invaluable information and resources, hosting a community through which ideas can be shared and exchanged.

Its illustrious campaign to identify the industry's overall winner of the Management Support Fellowship Award kicked off in August 2007, with the first of 10 monthly competitions to find its 'Admin of the month'. The Awards culminated this month in the crowning of the ultimate winner, selected from the 10 monthly finalists during a four-month voting campaign which drew millions of votes from across the industry.

The Management Support Fellowship Awards are special not just because they celebrate the vital role of the Management Support professionals but because the winners have been elected by their peers. The opportunity to participate in the campaign was heightened by the prospect of being nominated and ultimately voted for by fellow management support personnel all across the US - attracting hundreds of applicants for each monthly selection and resulting in an impressive voting count throughout the campaign.

The profiles of the 10 finalists have appeared as a regular feature on the pages dedicated to the Awards at DeskDemon.com. Visitors could get a quick overview of all nominations from a summary of each candidate's credentials, and could rank their favorites and view the highest scoring nominees as the voting progressed.

Each monthly winner received a $500 cash prize and her nominator $100. The top prize of $15,000 is unprecedented in the industry.

The winner of the Management Support Fellowship Award 2008 is set to become a true ambassador for the secretarial community and can expect to address conferences, Webinars and industry events.

Read what others had to say about Marie: (Due to space we couldn't include all responses)

Michelle    Marie's endless energy and contributions to the admin community and IAAP have proved to be a valuable resource over the few years I've known her. I appreciate the brainstorming chats she hosts and the transcripts she posts for us. Keep up the great work and good luck. Colleen Neill    Marie is a great source of information on many topics regarding communication, technology, leadership and mentoring just to name a few. Teresa Tidwell CAP    Marie, I appreciate what you have done for members of IAAP! You certainly portray the "professional" in Professional. Carol R    Marie is well deserved of this award. She is polished, professional and a techno-goddess. Tisha Duggan CPS/CAP    Marie has demonstrated leadership in the face of challenge by leading Interchapter Chats on behalf of the IAAP (International Association of Administrative Professionals) even though they did not understand the significance of these chats. Marie is a strong leader. Dianne Seeks CAP    Marie is a shining example of being proactive. She is an inspiration and mentor to many members of IAAP and I feel fortunate to have made contact with her. Good luck Marie! Teresa Henderson, CAP    Marie is one of the most organized and intelligent Administrative Professionals I have ever had the privilege of being associated with. I have learned so much from her "Chats" through IAAP and stand in awe of her ability to create a message, written or oral, and get her point across in a concise, effective, and efficient way. Sheri Brogni, Owner, Champion Administrative Resources    Marie is a role model for leadership. She is passionate about sharing information that will help all administrative professionals and "raise the bar" for excellence. April Kelsey CAP    Marie is most deserving of this award. She has hosted the IAAP Brainstorming Chats for quite a while now, and I have benefited from each and every one. Her comments on the IAAP website foum are always useful and well thought out. She has a cheerful, positive attitude toward our chosen career and will go out of her way to answer any questions. Judith A. Yannarelli CPS/CAP    Marie's my friend and no one deserves to win more. She is an inspiration to administrative professionals. Marie is the best representation for the award and I fully expect that she will be the winner. Nancy Riesbeck    I cannot agree more with your "Key Nuggett" -- never lost the thirst for knowledge! Marie is a professional of professionals when leading very large on-line IAAP brainstorming chats! Mary L    Marie is an outstanding professional with superb skills. She is definitely a "people" person and capable of getting a large group involved and excited about participating in group efforts and learning opportunities. Bobbie Frye    Marie deserves to win. She has done a great job hosting the forums. Marlene Kollmeyer    Because of Marie's many activities at work and being devoted to IAAP and the betterment of its members through web chats, she deserves the appreciation from many. Nadine Baker    Marie is most deserving of this award! She's a leader and has done a great deal to promote collaboration and shared learning in IAAP. She is a wonderful asset to any organization. Theresa Yagielo    Marie is an extraordinary person and so awesome in the administrative field. Her ideas are so visionary. She motivates and inspires many.

And for the UK:

Debbie Neal, PA to the CEO of G4S is voted by PAs, secretaries and administrators across the UK to win the DeskDemon Management Support Fellowship Award.

DeskDemon is pleased to announce that Debbie Neal, Executive Administrative Manager and PA to the Group CEO and the Group COO of G4S, has been chosen by PAs, secretaries and administrators as the grand prize winner the DeskDemon Management Support Fellowship Award.

Over the last twelve months, the UK secretarial community has recognised the achievements and accomplishments of outstanding individuals who support the Nation’s bosses - the unsung heroes of the office. Nearly 100,000 of you voted nationally for PAs, secretaries and administrators working in all points of the United Kingdom, from Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales and, in the end, it was Debbie’s accomplishments, communications skills and achievements that most impressed her peers.

A delighted Debbie explains how the award has already impacted not just on her own role but also her colleagues too.

“Taking part in the UK Management Support Fellowship Award has been an amazing experience. The competition was incredibly strong, and I know that any of the ten finalists would have been worthy winners, they are all exceptional PAs and from their profiles and their comments page, you can see how highly valued each one is in their own company. For myself, I have been bowled over by the support from my colleagues around the world. The award has raised the profile of all the PAs here at G4S, as each manager has seen the recognition that our most senior managers have given me, and realises the value of their own hardworking assistants.”

As Executive Administrative Manager and PA to the Group CEO and the Group COO of G4S, (formerly Group 4 Securicor), the largest security provider in the world, Debbie’s role is enormously varied.

Managing her Executive’s busy travel schedules, organising meetings with VIPs and liaising with offices around the world is just the tip of the iceberg for Debbie when she arrives at the Gatwick located HQ. Managing her time is imperative as she juggles many of her own projects, deals with calls, completes vast amounts of general office tasks daily and assists in the recruiting and training needs of the best PA candidates for her company. No mean feat, considering G4S is the largest employer in the FTSE100.

With just two years in the job, Debbie has quickly impressed her bosses with her organisational skills, ability to prioritise and sense of humour – much needed key strengths as she joined the company immediately following a merger and office relocation.

Nick Buckles, Group Chief Executive Officer, G4S Plc is delighted that Debbie has been recognised by her peers for this award:

“Debbie has made a significant impact since she joined G4S. She has all the skills that I expect from a top notch PA, but what sets her apart is her positive attitude, calm manner and endless good humour which combine to create a great atmosphere in the office. In a relatively short period of time she has built strong relationships around the Group and I know that many people will join me in congratulating her on winning this award.”

Debbie believes that the three most important skills she brings to G4S are relationship building, multi-tasking and prioritising. She adds the ability to read minds, read upside down, type like lightening, use Google like a pro, have a memory like an elephant, a sense of humour and a healthy dose of perspective are also keys to her success.

Debbie’s personality and continuing pursuance of excellence has already gained her recognition amongst her colleagues and co-workers Worldwide, and now with the achievement of winning the DeskDemon Management Support Fellowship Award, her considerable accomplishments are now recognised by her peers across the UK.

As winner of DeskDemon’s Management Support Fellowship Award, Debbie receives the stunning grand prize of £10,000 and coaching from Castalia PA Executive Coaching. Debbie will also be featured as the cover story in an upcoming PA Enterprise issue, DeskDemon’s digital magazine sent to over 70,0000 PAs secretaries and administrators.

DeskDemon would like to thank everyone who voted and participated in these awards.

Forum Board Posts

Cringing on the job

What job related things do you just not like doing? Maybe tasks that are tedious, ones that are hard to figure out? I am looking for the tasks that make you cringe when you hear it needs to be done. If nothing make cringe, which ones make you sigh and go, lets get th is over with.

Enjoyable jobs!

What jobs do you feel happy to do? (yes the opposite of the last sound off!)

some people!!!!!!

Why does there always have to be that one person who you are asked to help out that is a nitpicker and a micromanager? As I explained in previous post, our client doesn't want to replace an admin who quit back in September and is looking to me to pick up the support of the three departments she handled. I was "asked" to do a project involving a training seminar next week which involved putting together some notebooks (no big deal - run copies, type up divider labels and cover sheets and assemble) and pull together additional handouts. The handouts are more than what's in the notebooks and his instructions on assembling them are extremely tedious. This morning I get a call that he wants to check the "quality" of the handouts before Friday so any changes that need to be made can be done over the weekend. In other words, I have to drop everything (my normal work for my normal reports which has increased 5 fold this week because their manager is onsite to discuss cutbacks) and assemble these 12 folders of handouts (3-4 docs in each folder and copies run for 12-15 people of each set of docs) so he can spot check them by Friday morning.

When I asked about possible changes and having to re-run copies - "oh no, that's not what I said". Malarky - if he wants to check the "quality", then he can look at the documents he sent me that I'm printing and copying from. Not wait until I've run 12 sets of each group.

This so called 6 hours of work has already taken more than 8 and I envision at least another 8 or more depending on how often I'm interrupted to do my normal work.

Please fire me now. Drawing unemployment is looking so much better than this stress right now. 8(

office procedure

I've been a PA/Administrator for a about 5 years now but like mose people I was never trained to become one. I have been fighting with my understanding of what office procedures mean. Can anyone help?

Disappearing Boss

This is a very difficult but annoying subject and no doubt many of you have faced this.

Does your boss disappear without notice? Does your boss leave the office without telling you?

My boss has quite literally vanished this morning and it's rather embarrassing as I cannot inform others of his whereabouts.

I just wondered how on earth you manage someone like this who just roams from building to building, meeting to meeting, when there is nothing concrete in the diary until later in the day.

Being new is difficult enough without having to come up with all the answers. Maybe employers should provide us with a crystal ball as part of the many props we need to do our job.

How to win over your enemies at work

I saw an article today (not sure if I'm allowed to post?) entitled: How to Win Over Your Enemies

The theory behind the article is that you ask an enemy to do you a small favor, then treat your relationship as though you had a positive relationship and then you won't be enemies any longer. The article refers to this as "The Ben Franklin Effect", from his autobiography where he wrote "Enemies who do you one favor will want to do more."

I haven't tried this, but I do have a personal theory on the subject (based on a recent experience where it worked!). Basically, I mirror the person's actions. When Shelley (name for illustrative purposes only) does something negative, I respond with a negative reaction. But when Shelley does something positive, I respond with a positive reaction. Shelley, hopefully, eventually learns that positive interactions yield more positive interactions so it's truly in her best interest to be nice.

I'm in the middle of working this theory again with someone right now so the article had particular relevance to me. Thoughts from others on how you handle these situations?

Chances to win on DeskDemon - UK

A Gift That's Always in Style
Get stylish this Christmas with some of the most exciting fashion brands on the high street and enter our free prize draw to win one of three £50.00 Arcadia gift card shopping sprees.

Win £5000 towards your Christmas Party with Dymo
Simply buy one of the new LabelManager 220P or 210D to be in with a chance of winning. Plus! Everyday in November, one lucky winner will win £100 worth of M&S Vouchers. 

Fruit arranged like flowers? What a delicious idea.

From DeskDemon UK

Edible Arrangements® has a fresh fruit bouquet for all your gift giving needs this holiday season. Bouquets are made fresh daily.     more…

15 Secrets To Boost Your I.Q In Less Than 30 Days

From DeskDemon UK & & US

Setting aside time to work your mind out and organizing your various mental muscles can help you to be more creative, solve problems quicker and focus on the things you want.     more…