How to Boost Team Creativity

  Being creative is more than just coming up with new ideas for products, or cost reductions. It’s a tool that can be used in many ways and situations. Creative people are better problem solvers and tend to overcome obstacles to reaching goals better than plodders. Research shows that people are much more creative and productive when they feel happy says Daniel Gilbert, a psychology professor at Harvard University.     Having a hard time coming up with new ideas with your team? A few practical tips to build a more creative team.    Learn each team members’ distinctive talents  The areas ...

read more

How to organise an Event

Managing an event has become a specialised discipline and requires an abundance of skills. The following are 10 things to keep in mind while organising an event      Questions to consider before planning an event: What are the objectives (both primary and secondary) of the event? What is the benefit to the organization? Are there achievable budgets and results? Does the concept have the support of your Board or Head Office? Do you need to test by running a pilot event? What is the division of roles and responsibilities? How can the event be monitored? How will the evaluation ...

read more

Tips for Having More Productive Days

Are You Busy or Are You Productive? There is a big difference between being busy and being productive, yet many of us use the two terms interchangeably. Stop confusing busyness for productivity, and you’ll get more done. Are you making progress on mission-critical tasks and projects? Then, you are productive.       We believe having a productive day is all down to planning, prioritising and focusing. Check out our tips below:   Get enough sleep every night. Wake up early, probably just after sunrise. Many studies reveal that morning birds are more creative, energetic and motivated than night owls ...

read more

Documents that are commonly used in meetings

For any meeting to take place in a procedural way, there are a few important and necessary documents involved without which the meeting will not go smoothly.   The necessary documents for a meeting are:      Agenda The meeting agenda is the meeting plan. Document created by the PA, secretary or admin. It is then approved by the chairman and circulated to the other members who will be attending the meeting. It can be distributed either digitally or as hard copies. It is always best to have a few spare copies. It lays out the topics that need to be ...

read more

Minute Taking Guidance

Minutes serve as legal binding documents in many situations and in many organizations and can be produced as evidence of certain discussions and decisions when there are legal challenges in the future. A common job duty of administrative and EAs is to be able to take effective meeting minutes. Whether you are taking minutes at a team meeting or a meeting of the Board of Directors, the skills are pretty much the same.   The following is a guide for making this task easier:    Before the meeting.  Choose your tool: Decide how you will take notes, i.e. pen and paper, ...

read more

Office Wear Essentials

Contrary to popular belief, there are many ways to stay sensible yet stylish at the office. Getting dressed for the office doesn’t mean leaving your personal style behind. Find out which looks give you a polished, professional look and which fashions can be a career killer.     Below are some must-have items for a completely polished, professional wardrobe Build a strong set of timeless staples
. Focus on fit and quality
. Learn to maximize your wardrobe through smart outfit combinations instead of relying solely on statement pieces.    Invest in the Classics. Save money on items that you’ll wear infrequently, and invest ...

read more

Etiquette Dilemmas of Traveling With Your Boss

Being invited on a business trip with your boss is a great opportunity. This can be an opportunity to improve your position in the company. There are two things to do when traveling with your boss:    You may want to show to your boss that you are an expert in a particular field.     The most important rule to keep in mind is:     Repeat this mantra to yourself over the course of the trip. Everything that applies in the office applies on the road.   Here is some useful advice:    Flesh out your itinerary. You are likely ...

read more

5 Smart Organising Tips For Executive Assistants

  Executive assistants provide high-level support to managers and business executives. EAs have more responsibilities compared with entry-level secretaries. Some of the essential tasks of an EA include: working independently to plan, coordinate and organize projects. They supervise, mentor and develop administrative staff, and often have an assistant of their own. To become successful at the job, an EA must have excellent organization and customer service skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work well with all levels of management. She/He  also must meet deadlines, pay attention to details and maintain a professional appearance at all times.    Prioritise/Time Management ...

read more

Executive Assistant Interview Questions

This is a great article we’ve found about the most frequently asked interview questions for an Executive Assistant, Administrative Assistant interview for C-level executives.  Some of these are obvious, but it’s really good to have a refresher and they could be really useful.        Tell me about yourself.  A great chance to sell yourself. Plan well, be precise and practice in front of anyone you can find. Try to touch upon a little bit of your personal self, this will give the interviewer a good insight into your personality.    What are your current duties as an Administrative/Executive Assistant? ...

read more

Eight ideas to help you to be more productive

  We share eight easy reminders of ways to make sure your day is more productive, to help you get the most from your day.    To-do lists – we all know how essential a to-do list is to an effective day, so make the next day’s list before you leave the office with each item rated based on its importance. This not only helps you focus quickly in the morning and increases the productiveness of your day, it also allows you to leave work at work.    Make notes – pen and paper, smart phone, tablet, whichever suits you; ...

read more