How many of you are familiar with that lethargic drag that inevitably comes around this time of year? Here we are, entering our third month of the year. The holidays are over, that initial “New Year Resolution” period is something of the past, and you are really getting into the grit of the year. The truth is, whether you are an Administrative Professional or an Executive, you can bet that if you are feeling the drag, so is the rest of your office. So what do you do?

One of the best things you can do for your team is incentivize. That means adding a little sparkle to those high priority tasks or projects that need to be completed. March is a great month to inject a little “Umph” into your workplace, because this is when they really need it -as do you!

Read more3 Incentives to Energize Your Team for March

First day of your new job, or in your new role. You prepare the perfect outfit, you place each hair in perfect order. Maybe you are also taking your time to apply your makeup flawlessly. You step into each shoe with purpose. Quickly you tap the buttons, and the coffee begins to percolate. You breathe in the aroma and think forward to your day; how you will carry yourself, making certain to smile at everyone, settling into your desk and approaching each task with determination.

Just as you envision your day and how to best set yourself up for success, you should have conversations with your boss from day one. Prepare your own list of personal expectations that you must meet in order to fulfill your own personal goals, along with another list of how you want to meet specific goals within the company and some plan to get there. When you sit down with your boss, have these ready to communicate, as well as asking what the expectations are for you in your role.

Read moreAligning Expectations Between Admins & Execs

5 Ideas For Administrative Professionals That Will Ease Decision-Making.

It’s the beginning of a new year, you have a small budget for professional development, but quickly you are overwhelmed with the number of Administrative Professional events and conferences available, not to mention work related conferences and on-line education. It can be a show stopper… the fear of choosing a program that doesn’t deliver on what is promised. When the subject of professional development comes up during my AdminUniverse™ training sessions or ACE meetings, I’m often asked what administrative professional conferences I would recommend. This is not a one answer fits all. Here are 5 Points of Wisdom (POW) you should consider when selecting your next conference or event.

Read morePicking the Right Conference

Martin Luther King Jr. is being remembered this week, and his impact as a leader and visionary are being refreshed to a whole new audience. His passion for equality has helped to shape the way our society grows and develops. He understood that more people are coming together to contribute to the bigger picture, no matter their backgrounds, the greater the results. Learning to understand people and how to create a balance among employees is a core strength used by successful organizations.  

Read moreThe Advantages to Working with Diverse Teams

Powering up Vs. Recharging

We live in this intense world. A world that teaches us not only to multitask, but to do it with a sense of urgency. Although being able to juggle different tasks and do it quickly and efficiently is fantastic for your role in the office, it may not be so great if you don’t set boundaries for yourself. Taking time to relax and have fun is not something that is spoken about as often in the business world, but it just as necessary for being a productive power player! Here is our quick and easy method for making sure you are a rockstar at work and at home.

Prepare

You may have heard me say this before – preparation is the key to success. Getting all your ducks in a row. Especially if you are that particularly gifted type of person who constantly gleans inspiration from everything in your environment in an effort to really reach outside your responsibilities. If that sounds familiar, I’m looking right at you today! Your personality is the most prone to working endlessly, ever reaching, never feeling like you have done enough. It’s a wonderful attitude, no doubt about it, but you are most likely to forget to let yourself rest and revive.

Read moreYour Time is Precious

Recently, I posted a TedxBend® which discussed why introverts make good leaders. This reminded me of an interview with OfficeNinjas where they asked me “Do you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert? How does that affect you as a leader?” My answer: I am an introvert.

Read moreLeaders that Hide an Introvert Secret

FOR RELEASE – TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2018 6 AM EST
From: Allan Linden – ACE (Administrative Center of Excellence)

CEO Admin to Benefit from Peer-to-Peer Network Platform

Administrative Center of Excellence (ACE) – Launch Sacramento and Silicon Valley

SACRAMENTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Administrative Center of Excellence (ACE) announced today the launch of Sacramento based platform providing CEO, CFO, CHRO, CMO, CIO/CTO Assistants with a unique ability to share and compare best practices with peers at their level in similar organizations. Founded by Joanne Linden, CPS, CEAP and President/Founder of AdminUniverse™ in Silicon Valley in 2013, the focus of this organization is aimed at Administrative teams; giving them the ability to discuss challenges of supporting high-powered CEO/C-suite teams; give fresh ideas on how to take their EA partnership to the next level; and develop CEO/C-suite/Assistant teams to be as dynamic as possible while enhancing the productivity of their executives.

“It is my goal to enable Administrative Leaders to better understand the global perspective on what it takes to be the crusader supporting your organization’s admin community; build on what you have; and deliver programs that inspire participation,” said Joanne Linden. “Just as important is delivering a platform in which Admin’s can share ideas with peers at their level which never before was available.”

Read moreCEO Admin to Benefit from Peer-to-Peer Network Platform

Previously we explored the first two Leadership Fundamentals; Communication and Motivation – but there’s more! To fully engage your Administrative Leadership Role, we have a few more skills on the checklist. Whether you already have a firm grasp on these or you are just diving in, you should revisit these principles on a routine basis to make certain your team is striving for success!

Read moreDeveloping Leadership Skills – Part 2