Question: “I’d like to update my Microsoft Office skills. If I have limited staff development funds, but would like to get some advanced training, which program would be the most beneficial to me and the company? In other words, what’s the best bang for the buck?” — Anonymous

Question: “What would be a few good agenda items to discuss at our next administrative professionals meeting?  No one really wants to say anything, and therefore, the individual departments do not share any new ideas or updates on their activities. Do you have any sample agendas to share?” — Victoria

Question: "I have hard copy files labeled under "Dr." Do I file first under “D” or do I file under the doctor's name?" — Anonymous
 

Question: “I need to create work-order forms for various tasks (project details, requesting copies, deadline requirements) for many different employees. Can anyone provide examples of forms/templates that I can use?” – Ruthann

Question: “When people fill in for me during lunch, they often rearrange the desk. How do I let them know that my desk is not community property?” -- Anonymous

Question: “I am developing a training class for administrative support staff on achieving workplace success in a changing environment. I’m having difficulty locating information on how staff can boost their self-confidence and motivation and feel more empowered during economic uncertainty and organizational change. Can you suggest resources? — Linda

Question: “The Gregg Reference Manual says to use a comma to set off abbreviations that follow a person’s name, such as “Jane Doe, CPS.”  I recently proofed a newsletter where some names did not have commas.  When I brought this to the attention of the person submitting the information, she said that other newsletters didn’t use commas. Has this grammar rule changed or are people just getting it wrong.  Should you still use the comma?” — Diana

Question: “An employee placed a recorder in a meeting but none of the participants were aware that she was recording the session. She later confessed to me that she recorded it. What should I do?”  — Amanda
 

Question: “My company advisor has asked me to write a book on company morale and ways to improve it, because I have implemented a team game that has been very successful over the years. I have no idea where to start or what traps to avoid. I’m an office girl, not a writer. Are there classes I should take or companies to approach?” — Jocelyn K. Mylott

Question: “We have had monthly admin meetings for the past six months. The senior admin is now asking for our input about how and what should be discussed during those meetings. I'm curious as to what other admins do in their meetings. What do you discuss?” — Barb

Question: “I supervise a clerical worker in my department. She has difficulty knowing where to file folders with only initials or those that begin with a numeral, e.g., CPP or 3M.  She mixes them in anywhere. I have tried to explain "filing etiquette," but she tells me she knows how to file. Can you give me pointers?  Is there a new acceptable way to file?” — Robin

Question: “I've just learned the mail merge application on Microsoft Office/Word 2003. After the salutation, the software automatically inserts a comma (i.e., Dear Mr. Jones,). I was taught to use a colon rather than a comma.  Now that we are in the 21st century has the colon been dropped in favor of the comma? My mail merge will not let me substitute a colon for a comma.” — Anonymous

Question: "I work at a company that loves meetings. I support a C-level executive and am always looking for ways to reduce the amount of meetings he needs to attend. I’ve tried reducing the length of meetings, sending delegates, changing the frequency (quarterly instead of monthly), handling more topics via e-mail and scheduling them over lunch or dinner. Every few months, we review all scheduled meetings to see whether we can cancel anything.  And yet there still are not enough hours in the day to accommodate all the high- priority meetings. Does anyone have additional suggestions for eliminating the amount of meetings?"  — Angela Van Cleve

Question: "I am on a task force to develop a "desk audit" or "task audit" that will give our 20-member staff a better sense of how our time is spent, where we can become more efficient, and address unanticipated tasks. Our strategic planning consultants have told us that it would be best to develop our own workflow audit, as there are few models in the not-for-profit world.  They recommend choosing an "appropriate" unit of time and reporting frequency, making it easy and sharing data with staff frequently to show progress, but we're still feeling daunted by the task.  Has anyone developed a desk/task audit that they'd be willing to share?  How did you make it palatable to your co-workers?"  — Louise

Question: "What types of policy/guidelines do you have for office events during business hours? For example, does the admin plan the event or should a committee plan it? How involved is the senior management staff in planning an event?" — Anonymous
 

Question: “An ergonomic consultant recommended a narrower wrist/palm rest for several staff members. Their current rest is about 2.5 inches wide. I am having a hard time finding a narrower one. Any suggestions?” — Peggie Frost

“I’ve seen references to “tickler” files.  Can you please explain in detail, what they are and how you create and manage them?” — Valerie R. Butler

“Does anyone have an easy checklist available for putting together a conference for 100-plus people? I have started one, but I’m not sure if I have included everything needed.” — Michele

Question: “Does anyone have administrative professional books or web sites they can recommend?  I'm always looking to add to my personal "library of information." The recommended reference books that I’ve been using are: “How to Say It,” “How to Say It at Work,” and “Katharine Gibbs Handbook of Business English.”  — Lisa Stich

Question: “Because of budget cutbacks, we had to lay off our telephone switchboard operator and convert to an automated telephone system. By dialing 0, patrons can still talk to a live person.  Many bypass the menu and immediately dial 0. We are a public library, and we composed our own menu options. It is difficult to navigate and much too long and wordy. Any suggestions for making the menu more user friendly?” — Kate Zimmerly

Question: “Does anyone have a template or a format they use for Board Resolutions? — Ann E. Harris

Question: “I have been told my minutes are too "wordy."  Does anyone have a format to follow for the correct wording on report minutes?” — Rachel M. Ouimet

Question: “We are in the process of conducting annual employee performance evaluations and I am hearing complaints about the form we have used for the past two years. Can anyone provide a source for performance evaluation forms?  I would like to get several samples to review so that we can select one prior to evaluation time next year.” — Pam Bowman

Question: “I would like some additional training in report presentation and graphic design/layout. I type audit reports (Word and Excel), and I produce two newsletters (Microsoft Publisher). I would like to assist my bosses in better preparation and presentation of their audit reports (PowerPoint), as well as improve the look of the newsletters. Has anyone taken the career track graphic design/layout seminar or any other seminar? Any special software you can recommend?” — Diana Chase

Question: “At my office, we are bombarded with e-mail, multiple phone lines ringing, interoffice instant messaging and people walking in and out of cubicles all at the same time. When we describe the office scenario in interviews, job candidates nod and say they can handle it.  Then they get here and say, “Why didn’t you say it was this busy?” — Kristin Patterson