That project schedule of yours? Useless

  • August 17, 2011

In a perfect world, office equipment would never break. Colleagues would be as dependable and timely as a Swiss train. And creating a foolproof schedule for a project...

Never hand off work without a checklist

  • May 02, 2011

It’s not enough to do your work correctly and efficiently; you must also be sure that other members of the team or project-based work group can be trusted to...

Admins’ secrets for tracking assignments

  • April 14, 2011

A reader writes: “We have tasks assigned to us via e-mail, the phone, in-person, in passing, etc. I carry my notebook and keep it on my desk to jot down...

5 ways to keep track of business cards

  • April 05, 2011

“My boss is inundated with business cards,” writes an admin reader. “Some are in Rolodexes, others are loose. But he doesn’t want to weed ...

What exactly is a ‘tickler’ file?

  • May 15, 2009

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

Do you have a corporate recycling policy?

  • February 15, 2008

Question: “Our company is interested in establishing a corporate policy for recycling at our office. Has anyone written such a policy?” — Linda Goode

How do I create a project board?

  • November 30, 2007

Question: “I share an office with several other secretaries.  My director has asked us to create a "project board" to post our assignments on. ...

Taskmaster, taskmaster, make me a task!

  • February 02, 2007

Question: My boss has several direct reports that he meets with individually each month. After each meeting, my boss gives me his notes and I use them to assign...

How do you track contracts?

  • October 26, 2006

Question: I have worked for my employer -- a large company with more than 1,400 employees -- for eight years now. When I started working here, the amount of contracts...