Administrative Assistant's Update - sample

May 2017

Focuses on the training and development needs of admin professionals and features topics such as hard skills (software competencies, writing, communication, filing) and soft skills (teamwork, time management, leadership).

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MAY 2017 P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T F O R C A N A D A ' S O F F I C E S U P P O R T S T A F F Administrative Assistant's UPDATE UPDATE PM #40065782 INSIDE Onboarding new executives � 2 EAs have organization intelligence that would help execs get started LinkedIn strategies � � � � � � � � 3 Using collaboration, crowdsourcing to replace "reply all" email Real-time co-authoring � � � � 4 Avoid copying, pasting, reformatting when multiple authors collaborate Career paths � � � � � � � � � � � � � 6 Most of EA's foundation skills are transferable to management role By Rhonda Scharf Does the idea of running a business from home interest you? Do you want to control how much money you make, the hours you work, and design a lifestyle that works for you instead of a large corporation? You're not alone. That type of con- trol and opportunity appeals to many people, but they often struggle with the question "What would I do?" You've probably seen many of your friends step into some retail part- time business, whether that is selling candles, oils or laundry soap. There is nothing wrong with those lines of business, but there is so much about the job itself you need to learn, and that can be overwhelming. Instead of starting from scratch, why not use the skills you already have? Your job as an administrative professional makes you uniquely qualified to be a virtual assistant! Slow down; it isn't that easy. Then again, anything worth having doesn't come easy, right? The good news is that you have most of the skills you need to be a VA. You just need a little insight to ensure you don't jump in too quickly without enough homework. Here are some of the pros and cons of being a self-employed VA: PROS You are your own boss (sort of). Technically you are the boss, so you can call your own shots. However, any paying client will expect you to jump when they say jump. You can jump, or not, and deal with the consequences of your choice. You are the boss… it is up to you how you respond. That type of control is a pretty powerful incentive. Flexibility. You can set your own hours. Maybe you're a night owl, and you like to work into the wee hours. You can. Perhaps you're a stay-at- home parent, and you need to get the kids ready in the morning and pick them up after school. You can set your work hours around your schedule. Maybe you want to spend your winters in a warmer client; you can do that too! You have the flexibility to pick where and when you work. For those just thinking about starting your own VA business, working in the evenings af - ter your day job might fit just perfectly. Satisfaction. No more being stuck in traffic every day causing your stress levels to increase exponentially (unless there is a lot of traffic between your bed- room and your office that is!). No more office politics. No more expense on Xerox chief was once an EA Ursula Burns was raised by a single mother, a Panamanian immigrant, in a NewYork City housing project. After earning two degrees in me- chanical engineering, she was hired by Xerox in 1981 and worked in product development and planning throughout her 20s. In 1990 Wayland Hicks, a senior Xerox executive, offered her a job as his executive assistant. In mid-1991 she became EA to chairman and CEO Paul Allaire. Then followed a succession of executive positions. In 2007 Ursula Burns was named president of Xerox and in 2009 became CEO and in 2010 became chairperson. VA lifestyle is rewarding for those who play it smart Continued on page 4 Credit: Milan Ilic Photographer (Shutterstock)

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