I Didn’t Even Think of Using AI for That! – Transforming Administrative Work Beyond the Obvious

How Administrative Professionals Can Use AI Strategically

Guest insight from Reanette Etzler, presenter at Office Dynamics International’s Fall In Love With AI virtual event.

Let me ask you something: how many hours did you spend last week on tasks that felt necessary but were not exactly strategic?

You know the ones. Gathering background information before meetings. Tracking down details your executive asked about days ago. Reformatting documents. Researching vendors. Pulling together status updates. Creating briefing materials.

All important work. All time-consuming. And none of it positions you as the strategic partner you are capable of being.

Most people are using AI for the obvious

Here’s what many administrative professionals miss about AI. Everyone is talking about using it to write emails or summarize documents. Helpful, yes. But also… a little basic.

The real transformation happens when you discover the AI applications that make you stop and think, “Wait, I did not even know AI could do that.”

Beyond the obvious: what AI can really do for admins

I’m excited to be part of Office Dynamics International’s Fall In Love With AI virtual conference because my session is not about the obvious stuff. You already know AI can help with emails. You’ve probably tried it for drafts or meeting notes.

What you might not know is that AI can help you:

• Set up your AI assistant the right way so it actually supports your work (including which platform to choose and how to get it running in about 30 minutes).
• Build an AI memory system that reflects your executive’s preferences, communication style, recurring tasks, and organizational context so it gets smarter with every interaction.
• Create custom instructions that work for meeting prep, document creation, research, scheduling, travel, and more so results are consistent and usable.
• Use time-saving automations you may not know exist that can reclaim 5 to 10 hours per week for higher-value work.
• Use AI as a strategic and personal planner to track initiatives, prepare for performance conversations, and support your career growth.

Why this event title fits

Office Dynamics International nailed it with this conference title because once you discover what AI can really do for administrative professionals, you will fall in love with it.

Not the superficial “it writes emails faster” kind of love. The “this changed how I work and how I’m valued” kind of love.

The secret is set up

Here’s why many administrative professionals are not seeing meaningful results: they are using AI like a search engine instead of like a personal assistant.

The difference is setup, memory, and instructions.

When you properly set up your AI assistant, you are not starting from scratch every time. You are building a system that:

• Remembers preferences, language, workflows, and past decisions
• Understands context for your role, industry, and culture
• Follows task-specific instructions so outputs are consistently useful

Think about the best human assistant you have ever worked with. They did not need detailed instructions every time because they learned patterns, anticipated needs, and understood context.

That’s what a properly configured AI assistant can do, and that’s what I will teach you to build in my session.

The time transformation

Administrative professionals who implement these AI strategies often report reclaiming 5 to 10 hours per week. But here’s what matters more than the time savings: what you do with those hours.

When you’re not buried in transactional tasks, you can:

• Identify process improvements before problems emerge
• Build strategic relationships across the organization
• Analyze patterns and provide business intelligence
• Anticipate executive needs instead of reacting to requests
• Position yourself for advancement and recognition

You move from “gets stuff done” to “drives business results.” From transactional task manager to transformational strategic partner.

The real love story

Here’s why you will fall in love with AI. It gives you back the one thing you cannot manufacture: time to think strategically.

Time to see patterns. Time to build relationships. Time to anticipate needs. Time to create value beyond checking boxes.

That is when administrative professionals finally step into the strategic roles they have always been capable of, but never had space to occupy.

Your invitation

Join me at Office Dynamics International’s Fall In Love With AI virtual conference for my session:

I Didn’t Even Think of Using AI for That!

You will walk away with:

• Your AI assistant is configured and ready to use
• Custom instructions for your most common tasks
• A memory system that makes AI smarter every day
• Unexpected applications that reclaim hours for strategic work
• A 30-day implementation plan you can start immediately

Because the future of administrative work is not about being replaced by AI. It is about being amplified by it.

The question is not whether AI will change administrative work. It already has. The question is: will you use it to elevate your strategic value, or will you keep doing things the same way while others move ahead?

Ready to build a smarter relationship with AI?

Fall In Love With AI is a one-day virtual training event designed for administrative professionals who want practical, usable strategies to work smarter, save time, and elevate their value.

Register for Fall In Love With AI