10 of the biggest challenges for administrative assistants on the job

10 of the biggest challenges for administrative assistants on the job Administrative assistants are often the unsung heroes of the workplace. They are the ones who keep the office running smoothly or the boss happy and well prepared to do her or his job. They can multitask, possess multiple skills, and must face a variety of expected and unexpected challenges. The ability to face down any challenge and set it right is one of the things that really separate the great administrative assistant from the good.When taking on such a position (or considering if this is the field for you), it is vital to be aware of the kinds of challenges that lay ahead of you. Are you up to the task? You should know before you dive in.Keeping CalmA major part of being an administrative assistant is- you guessed it- assisting someone. It’s right there in the job title. If you’re lucky, you’ll be assisting someone who is courteous, understanding, and patient. But that’s often not the case. A superior can be rude, impatient, unreasonable, or downright explosive.It is totally natural for such behavior to make you want to explode too, but the seasoned administrative assistant takes a deep breath and figures out how to navigate difficult personalities. This can be even trickier when the person you are assisting explodes in front of sensitive clients, because you will not only have to defuse your ranting superior but also smooth things over with the client. Basically, youre expected to be cool, collected, and professional at  all times.Striving for PerfectionPeople who act cuckoo at work are more prone to make mistakes. That is a luxury an administrative assistant is never allowed. The best of the best remain organized and on top of the situation no matter what the situation or workplace environment may be. Everyone else can be running around like chickens without heads, but you must always remain in control of your work. Adaptable, dependable, and precise, all without breaking a sweat? Thats you!Never ForgettingOn a similar note, you are not allowed to ever forget anything. Ever. Keep a well-detailed calendar and make sure to check it constantly. Set yourself reminders on your phone. Jot down notes on Post-Its and stick them to your monitor. Do whatever it takes to make sure that everyone thinks you have a photographic memory- even if you don’t. They key is to come up with whatever weird systems works for you, and then to stick with it.Knowing Everyones Likes and DislikesAdministrative assistants most also get into the heads of the people they’re assisting, because not everyone in the office is the same. For example, some coworkers may love to gobble carbs during big meetings and expect a plate of croissants on the table. Others might need their vitamins and prefer a selection of fruit. It’s your job to know what everyone wants and make sure they get it.Staying CheerfulFinally, administrative assistants don’t get to wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Well, they do get to, but they can never let that show. No matter what is happening in the office or your personal life, a smile must always spread across your face, a skip must always be in your step, and pleasantness must radiate from your voice. You must exude happiness even when everyone else is down in the dumps. That can be one of the biggest challenges, since it is not always easy to get a handle on your emotions. People who can’t might not be cut out for a career as an administrative assistant.

How to Make Complaints for ESL Students

How to Make Complaints for ESL Students Politeness is universally appreciated, even when making complaints, no matter what language a person speaks, but in learning English as a Second Language (ESL), some students may struggle with formulas and functions of certain English phrases meant to politely start a conversation involving a complaint. There are a number of formulas used when complaining in English, but its important to remember that a direct complaint or criticism in English can sound rude or aggressive. For most  English speakers, its preferred that others express their dissatisfaction indirectly, and introduce the complaint with an amicable introductory clause such as Im sorry to have to say this but... or excuse me if Im out of line, but... It is important to note, however, that these phrases dont directly translate into Spanish so understanding the basic function of words like sorry go a long way to introducing ESL students to the polite way to go about making complaints in English. How to Start Complaints Amicably In Spanish, one might start a complaint with the phrase lo siento, or Im sorry in English. Similarly, English speakers typically start their complaints with an apology or indirect reference to propriety. This is largely because politeness is a major element of English rhetoric.   Some phrases that English speakers may use to start complaints politely: Im sorry to have to say this but...Im sorry to bother you, but...Maybe you forgot to...I think you might have forgotten to...Excuse me if Im out of line, but...There may have been a misunderstanding about...Dont get me wrong, but I think we should... In each of these phrases, the speaker begins the complaint with an admission of error on the speakers part, relieving some of the assumed tension between speaker and audience by letting the listener know that no one involved is blameless. Whether it be because of  contrasting ideas  or just because a speaker wants to say no nicely, these introductory phrases can be helpful to maintain respectful rhetoric in conversation. Forming a Polite Complaint After ESL students understand the concept of introductory phrases to complaints, the next important element of conversation is keeping the complaint itself polite. Although being  imprecise or vague  does have its benefits when complaining, clarity and good intentions go a lot further in maintaining the cordiality of conversation. Its also important not to come across as attacking while making a complaint, so the complaint itself should start with phrases like I think or I feel to indicate that the speaker isnt accusing the listener of something as much as he or she is starting a conversation about the disagreement. Take, for instance, an employee who is upset at another for not following the company policy while working at a restaurant together, that person might tell the other Excuse me if Im out of line, but I feel like you may have forgotten that closing waiters need to refill the salt shakers before leaving. By introducing the complaint with an apology, the speaker allows the listener to not feel threatened and opens up a conversation about company policy instead of scolding or demanding that person do their job better. Redirecting focus and calling for a solution at the end of a complaint is another good way to address the issue. For instance, one might say Dont get me wrong, but I think it might be better if we focus on this task before doing the one youre working on to a coworker who is not working on the right part of a project.

Hospital Disaster Planning Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hospital Disaster Planning - Research Paper Example Finally the purpose of a plan is to enable an organization reduce expenses which may occur at a future time. To begin with, every plan and project has to have goals and objectives to be met and therefore ample time ought to be invested so that all relevant information is table. In case of fire, some on the things to consider are how the fire outbreak can occur. In some instance, fire occurs outside the premises while in few instances inside the building. The major question then is how one will handle such a case in either case. There is therefore a need to have a plan. The initial step in designing a good plan for fire emergency is to contact personnel who have dealt with such cases, for they have a wide knowledge of past experience in disaster management and therefore they would be fundamental assets for a viable emergency management fire plan (Hanna, 2008). A good plan should define basin emergency terminologies and diagrammatically show any symbol associated with fire emergency and a clear definition of the symbol and its use and purpose. This is because the team that comes up with the plan may not be the same team that will put the plan into operation. The sequential steps and measures to pursue, incase of fire breakout, should be sequential enough and easy to implement. Furthermore, a good plan should have a list of appendix to give easy reference of information within the plan. In addition, a good plan should also be able to achieve its objectives perfectly well and also it should be subject to amendment. Assuming that fire outbreak from outside, some of the objectives many include one, to ensure that the larger mass of patients who possible could be outside are well controlled in order to avoid any casualty. Secondly, in case of fatalities, first aid ought to be administered instantaneously to avoid further complication. In addition to that, the medial care should come up with ways of ensuring that the available

Write a research paper about Crime and Economics or Crime and Age, or Essay

Write a research paper about Crime and Economics or Crime and Age, or Crime and Race, or Crime and Gender, or Geographical impact on crime - Essay Example Great emphasis has been more on male criminality than female offenders. Gender and societal norms are among factors that attribute to gender crime gap and constantly regulate rate of crimes that women commit. Males as well as female usually commit crimes that involve substance abuse and property crimes. These kinds of crimes fall into the category of minor misconduct. It is vital to note that a number of crimes that are much serious in comparison to murder and robbery do exist. Crimes committed in the past few decades involved larceny, rape, and other minor misconducts. Trends are slowly changing, and the number of female criminality seems to be on the rise. Evans (2013) points that the number women arrested by police for law-breaking is par with that of men. However, it is essential to evaluate the kind and degree of crimes that each gender commits. It is astounding to note that the rise in female criminality includes crimes that involve forgery, fraud, as well as theft and not in traditional female crimes that include prostitution and child abuse. Besides the above reasons that attempt to explain the disparity in male and female criminality, it is essential to consider emotional strength and societal norms. The perception of diverse individuals is that men are physically stronger compared to women. Thus, they are capable of committing crimes, which are violent. Gender norms dictated and sustained by society seem to influence lower crime rate of female criminality significantly. Composition of femininity is usually within varied discourses that circumscribe the behavior of a woman, as well as the association that she has with different individuals (Korcha et al., 2014). Several factors governing a woman’s experience include her mind, body, as well as her social interaction. Some individuals equate femininity with independence and self-control. Thus, a normal woman, is one who is selfless, nurturing and caring regarding the needs of

The Role of the Witches in the Downfall of Shakespeares MacBeth Essay

The Role of the Witches in the Downfall of Shakespeare's MacBeth MacBeth by William Shakespeare is a play which shows the uprise of MacBeth, the treachery and his eventual downfall. Witchcraft plays a major part in MacBeth's actions and his weak character is easily manipulated. Although being an honest and brave man earlier, his ambition clouds his judgement. His life is tragic and through some terrible deeds ends in catastrophe. MacBeth is Thane of Glamis and a highly honorable and respected man. He Is valiant and brave and was very successful fighting for his country. His honesty is unquestioned and he is looked upon favorably by the King. King Duncan awards MacBeth the title of Thane of Cawdor for his courageousness in battle. MacBeth doesn't seem to be one overwhelmed by his ambition but when met by the witches takes their ramblings to heart. 'Hail Thane of Glamis and of Cawdor and shalt be King hereafter'. These prophecies from three strangers are taken without question and probably without good judgement. Just the thought that he may be King clouds his thoughts and ambition take over. It is Lady MacBeth though who first schemes the treachery of murdering the King. But before the murder he is still a good man and his conscience is creating serious doubts. When contemplating the terrible deed he seems to be changing his mind. 'Prithee, peace: I'll dare do all that may become a man, who dares more is none' . But encouragement from his wife and an apparition probabl...

Lois Gould X: A Fabulous Child’s

Lois Gould X: A Fabulous Child's Story brings up the factor of raising a child gender-neutral within a society that categorized and stereotypes people by their gender and sex and how these gender roles are reinforced in society. Gould's X: A Fabulous Child's Story is about a child named X who is born for an experiment. The experiment is for two parents to raise a child where no one including the child knew whether it was a boy or girl in exchange, 23 billion dollars and 72 cents for the cost of raising baby X. This experiment was to show whether or not male and female characteristics are developed genetically or external. Baby X was raised as a happy health child who was raised and allowed to do everything both boy and girl children do, it did not matter whether only boys where suppose to play football or girls where only suppose to bake cakes, X was raised to know no differences and did both. X was never categorized or stereotyped from it parents as to how X should look, act, feel, or dress base on its gender. Because raising a gender-neutral child-like X would be difficult an unlike any other X's parents were given an official instruction manual on how to raise an X. The instruction manual helped answers and solve most of the questions and problems X's parents can across raising X in society designed for males and females. In today's society from the moment parents find out they are expecting a child most people want to know whether they will be having a boy or girl, and once a mother gives birth to a baby the first thing that is announced is if the baby is a boy or a girl. If you ask any expecting family what they wanted their baby to be most people the first thing they would most likely say is a healthy baby and, then they would say either a boy or girls; and for those who say the gender-sex of their child does not matter, in actuality it does. This is because we live in a society where society automatically characterizes people by their gender. Gender in today's society predetermines what you should wear, how you should act, feel, and look. Gould's X: A Fabulous Child's Story is an example of parents who tried to raise a gender-neutral child in a society that defines males and females from childhood by the way they dressed to the actives they participated in, an when a child like X was raised to ignore and defy all of societies gender classifications there's an up roar from children's parents. Although the children are at first confused and to curious as to if X is either a boy or girl, that later accept and embrace the factor that X is just X and does not need to be classified and defined. The parents of the children are not as accepting; they demand to find out the sex of the child, pressuring the principal and the parents to have X examined by outside experts. In society where your gender seems to predetermine how you should act and behave it is difficult to cross the invisible line that is in places for roles of males and females. I agree with Gould on the factors of how society has put in place, invisible lines of what your gender allows you to do, and what is acceptable in society. I also believe the school system does reinforce gender roles as to what society feels is acceptable, although there is a shift in society on the roles of women and men and what they can do. Today women are portrayed as heroes who hold the same positions as men and are, caring mothers, who take care of their families; because of this they line of what males and females are only supposed to do is crossed and is becoming acceptable. Gould's X: A Fabulous Child also proved that children are better accepting to change and differences from people, it is a child's parents that changes the child's perceptions of differences and what is acceptable. To live in a gender-neutral society would be ideal, but I feel society would just find another way to classify and define people.

Difference Between Man And His Environment - 1191 Words

DIFFERENCE In Genesis 1 the story describes how the animals were created. In Genesis 2 it discusses naming the animals. Genesis 1: 25: And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 2: 19: Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. DIFFERENCE The order of events in Genesis 1 is chronological. This means it follows a numbered sequence, that is Day 1-4 and so on. The order of events in Genesis 2 is topical, meaning that it focuses on a topic, the relationship between man and his environment. It doesn’t mention timeframes. SIMILARITIES God was involved in creation of all things Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created heavens and the earth† Genesis 2:7: then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. DIFFERENCE Genesis 1 gives us an outline of creation. Genesis 2 provides us with detail. Genesis 2: 10-11 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. DIFFERENCE Genesis 1 is a cosmic creation story. Genesis 2 is more localisedShow MoreRelatedCall Of The Wild By Jack London1386 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Wild is a novel about a dog named Buck, who is stolen away from his home in California and sold in Canada to become a member in a dog sled team. 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