Today I thought I might talk about RE-scheduling...that's right I am going to completely skip the most excellent subject of scheduling meetings (which account for probably about 50% of the work I do) and talk about re-scheduling.


When you work in an office you pretty much HAVE to be somewhat flexible. Shit comes up all the damn time and stuff has to move. I just got asked to push my lunch plans to 12:30 and I said...of course "no problem". I imagine she needed to push it because someone just changed her 11am meeting to 11:30 because someone in that meeting had someone show up a half hour late to their 10am meeting. It's a vicious chain reaction and I feel like writing another list of stuff to remember/do in regards to office meetings:

• For the love of your admin please pretty please dont ask her to schedule a meeting if you aren't sure it's needed or if you can delegate this meeting to someone else. This will cut down on the chances of having to reschedule.
• If you are not feeling well- try to power through the meeting or make it a phone call. Rescheduling only means more meetings will have to be rescheduled to fit this one in on another day.
• Think about whether the meeting is necessary - can this group collaborate via email and messenger?
• Have an agenda ready and send ti out before the meeting. This way everyone knows what the meeting is about, what is being discussed and if they cant make it to the whole thing, they can show up to the parts most relevant to them. Everyone wins! And again, less likely to be rescheduled.
• If someone doesn't show up or is late- try to go ahead without them.

Rescheduling meetings is a domino effect time suck...I do way more rescheduling than I do scheduling and its a pain in the ass. If you find that you are the one asking to reschedule a meeting often...be prepared for some backlash. People start to feel like their time is less valuable than yours and will resent you for it and become less productive and respectful of what you are trying to accomplish. Also, be honest about why you want to reschedule...chances are pretty good the other participants will better understand and be willing to work with you on a new time if they get where you're coming from.

Watch out for personal life pitfalls! If you are single and don't have someone who can run your car to get new tires while you work...hire someone to do it for you or pay a little more for a service that comes to you. Don't take half a day off unexpectedly to deal with car maintenance...especially if you're making hundreds of thousands of dollars and can afford to not have to do it yourself.

Office Awesomeness

I had an epiphany today. I am at work thinking about the Student Admin I am hiring that I will get to train to help me out in the office. See, I work on campus at a large University as an Executive Assistant and I am stretched VERY thin, as a lot of people lean on me for administrative support.

I was thinking about how this student will be helping out and will have had ZERO prior experience in an office setting. Not much applicable experience either (Chuck-E-Cheese is far from an office setting, but there are definitely some people who act like babies around here). Anyway, I am looking forward to molding her into an excellent office-worker and know that wherever her career path will lead her she will be better equipped thanks to me! ...or so I hope.

Perhaps if I write about my office adventures others can relate...or learn as well (or correct me or damn me to hell for even talking).

Let's start with the newest office craze:
Instant Messaging

Personally I love it. My email inbox gets out of control very quickly and this is a great way for my team to reach me. In the past I have worked at companies that have the entire office on it or all ten branches of the company...or just the admins. Some people are resistant and some dont go a day without trying out a new smiley face...just depends.

Currently since I work on Campus in a temporary department my team is spread out. I can go days without seeings a single one of them (if you dont count their photo popping up on messenger). So this tool is really nice. There are downsides to be ware of though. Here are some common IM@Work pitfalls:

• Tone does not come across well. Be careful what you say as usually the reader thinks negative tone before positive. Keep it light- simple questions or "hey I just sent you an email"...
• Don't overdo it - don't be a pest! If they have their "away" message on- honor it and dont bother them. Or at least acknowledge it "Hey I know you're not at your desk or busy, so when you have a moment, please look at the email I sent you titled "meeting Tuesday".
• There is no delay* so think hard and correct typos before you hit enter!
• Even instant messages can be saved/copied/pasted/printed/emailed so be careful what you say and to whom.
• If you decide to use the same messenger username for personal and work contacts, be extra careful you are not accidentally sending a personal message for your husband to your boss.

*Perhaps another time I will discuss Outlook Rules. My favorite rule is e-mail delay...it has saved me many times.

Please comment and let me know if this is lame or interesting..I may or may not keep up with it!