January 2012

You can make things happen.....

It's a new year and a new opportunity to really improve our lives.  Think about what you really want; what do you need to do to get it?

If you sit back and wait for things to happen, they may do .... or they may not..... or something you don't want may happen.

But .... if you plan and act, the world's your oyster!

 

December 2011

Always prepare before you make a 'phone call ....

If you want your 'phone calls to be effective - stop before you dial.....  It may only take 30 seconds, but that bit of preparation can make an enormous difference.

 

Here are just a few things you could think about before you pick up the 'phone (particularly if it's going to be a tricky call):

1.What is the objective of the call?
2.Who do you need to speak to?  What do you know about that person?
3.Is this the best time to make the call?
4.What would be the best way to build rapport?
5.Have you got all the background information?
6.How might you open the conversation?
7.What might the other person say?  And what might you reply to that?
8.What if he/she says something else?
9.How should you phrase your statements or requests?  What are the best words to use?

 

November 2011

How to write persuasively ....

1. Ensure high standards

2. Know your audience

3. Offer solutions rather than problems

4. Use your reader's words

5. Use positive words

6. Turn bad news into good news

7. WIIFM

WIIFM stands for What's In It For Me.  When you want to persuade someone to do something for you, try and find a reason that it would be good for THEM to do it ... not always easy, but possible.

Find our more about WIIFM and the other points above in my new book on business writing due out later this year.

October 2011

The less breaks you take, the less productive you could be.

People who choose to work without breaks could be less productive, less creative, less organised, more unfit and miss networking opportunities which could also improve performance and effectiveness.

Stop a while .......

 

September 2011

If you hate minutes, here are two vital things to remember :

Minute taking is not dictation - don't try to write down everything that everybody says; just listen and then jot down key words that will remind you of what was discussed.

Don't try and write your minutes in the meeting - you should just take notes. You then write your minutes (the summary) afterwards. If you have any doubts about whether or not something should be included just take a note and decide later. Just because something is in your notes, it doesn't mean it has to go in your minutes.

For all the information you need about preparing for meetings, taking notes, being professional in meetings and writing up your minutes, read "Successful Minute Taking : Meeting the Challenge" or contact me for information about minute taking and/or speedwriting courses.

 

 August 2011

Rather than fitting new technology into the way we work, we should try changing the way we work to benefit fully from new technology.

July 2011

The meaning of our communication is the response we get back, regardless of our intention.

Always plan and prepare before making a 'phone call, sending an email or attending a meeting.

 June 2011

Your emails and letters are often the first impression clients have of your organisation - are they giving the best impression?

Remember, emails are letters sent electronically and should be given the same care as you would give a letter.

If you'd like to know more, I am holding a business writing workshop in London on Tuesday 21 June. Contact me and quote TOTM to receive a 10% discount

 

May 2011

One of the reasons people struggle to take notes in meetings is because they have no structure to their notetaking. Long words are abbreviated at random and then can't be read the next day!

Shorthand can take a long time to learn, whereas speedwriting can be learnt in a day and perfected within weeks.

If you would like to know more contact us. There will be a speedwriting workshop in Manchester on 14 June.

 

 April 2011

"If you can see change not as an enemy, but as a welcome friend, you will secure the most valuable prize of all - The Future."

If your organisation is going through a period of change, be proactive and take some control to enable you to take advantage of the situation.

Above all, show a positive attitude .....

If you would like to know more visit http://www.bakerthompsonassoc.co.uk/cms/benefiting-from-change-in-the-work-environment and contact us.

 March 2011
 

Exceptional PAs are proactive to ensure their effectiveness. They take initiatives, volunteer, make and act upon decisions, become involved and seek to learn.February 2011

Exceptional PAs are networkers and join organisations such as EuMA (European Management Assistants - www.euma.org), they get informed by building relationships with colleagues, managers and specialists, they read bespoke magazines such as Executive Secretary, which is being re-launched later this month.

Above all, exceptional PAs are communicators .....

 February 2011

How much time do you spend worrying? Probably far too much ….. The nature of work, particularly a PA’s role, leads to many worries during work time …. and often those worries are taken home and compound any personal worries.

Worrying is time consuming, stress inducing – and pretty much pointless. 

Here are some tips :

If you awake at 3am worrying about work, tell yourself there is nothing you can do about it at the moment and force yourself to think about something else.
If, at a similar time, you wake up having just remembered something you should have done, write it down on a piece of paper and go back to sleep. From personal experience, I recommend you get up and write it down, I’ve often found illegible scribbles next to my bed which were written in the dark (possibly with my eyes closed)!
If you have a worry, focus on your possible options and then either act or wait.
If you have no control over the worry – let go (not easy, I know, but start gradually).
Most importantly, talk to somebody.

 January 2011

I thought for this month's tip that I'd suggest a few possible new year's resolutions that could improve business (and personal) relationships:

listen to people - really listen .....
be open-minded - we often assume we know what people are going to say and, even worse, finish their sentences
give people their "moment" - it's conversational to come back with something similar you've done, but sometimes it can really take away the moment from the speaker - do we really have to equal or better what they've done?
let others fill the silence - in a group, we don't have to always be the one to reply
 

December 2010

Minute taking is NOT dictation - just because you have taken note of something doesn't mean it needs to be included in the final minutes.

Don't try and write your minutes in the meeting; just take notes.

 

November 2010

If you or your manager have to travel overseas, I can recommend www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk as a helpful site. It gives information on vaccinations required, sun exposure and other overseas health issues - better to be safe!