conference for administrative excellence Archives - Office Dynamics - Executive And Administrative Assistant Training

November 22, 2016 By Jasmine Freeman 1 Comment

What I Learned From 450 Revolutionary Assistants in Las Vegas

When I was asked to speak at the Office Dynamics Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence, I was ecstatic. It was the first time my company OfficeTeam was participating in the event. And in my nearly 20 years around the administrative staffing industry, I had heard only fantastic things about the conference. So did the revolutionary event live up to its billing? Without a doubt.

Upon entering the opening session at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, I immediately sensed how warm and inviting the group was. It didn’t take me long to also appreciate the strength and knowledge that was in that room – from the speakers and attendees alike.

You Say You Want a Revolution …

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October 26, 2016 By Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Revelations from the Revolution at the Conference for Administrative Excellence

Just over a week ago, I had the honor of attending the Office Dynamics Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence. I was there both as a participant and a speaker, and the experience was, indeed, nothing short of revolutionary.

As a proud former administrative professional, I consider myself intimately familiar with the unique challenges—and unique rewards—of the field. Though my career has evolved into training and development, I always feel most at home when surrounded by growth-oriented assistants. That’s one of the reasons I always jump at the opportunity to attend Conference.

The theme for this year, in particular, really struck me: The Revolutionary Assistant. It’s no secret that the administrative field has dramatically changed over the years and will continue to do so. But what can we, collectively as a group, do to push our profession to the next level? How can we revolutionize our thinking and behaviors to not only meet the demands of the modern workplace, but to also lead the charge into the future?

These are the questions I had going into the Conference, and I’m pleased to say that I not only found the answers, but also uncovered a whole new depth of thought around these same topics.

Here are just a few of the key takeaways I received: [Read more…]

October 24, 2016 By Joan Burge 3 Comments

Do you have what it takes to be Revolutionary? Admin Conference Recap

Do you have what it takes to be Revolutionary?

Well, I have finally recuperated from hosting our big conference. It was a huge success and was worth all our time and energy. Our event this year was much bigger (in numbers) than 2015 and we were in a much larger convention space area than ever in the history of Office Dynamics so it took a tremendous amount of mental and physical energy on my part for 4 full days and nights. I was quite exhausted for several days after our event but it was the good kind as I was very pleased to meet the needs of hundreds of assistants.

We had amazing speakers who focused on how to be revolutionary. I thought it would be fun and useful for me to share some of the best points I heard from our speakers and share a few of my own words of advice. Maybe you can think about how to apply the ideas to your own role.

First, though, let me tell you why it’s important to be revolutionary: [Read more…]

May 4, 2016 By Joan Burge 19 Comments

Why Conference Receptions Are A Great Place to Start Networking

Do you dread going to the welcome reception at a conference? Or the opening night get together? A lot of people do, especially if they attend the conference alone or are a first timer. However, going to the first night’s event when attending an administrative conference is a great way to start meeting the people with whom you will spend the next 3 or 4 days. It’s also a great opportunity to meet the associates at the company hosting the conference. [Read more…]

April 29, 2016 By Guest Blogger 13 Comments

An Innovation Mindset: More Curious Than Certain

Author: Annette Brown

Full disclosure—I’m a recovering perfectionist. Nicknames that have followed me over the course of my lifetime include “Miss Goody-Two-shoes,” “Little Miss Perfect” and “Rule Girl.” I’d like to think I always try to do the right thing. I have to admit, I’m one of those people who has historically loved being right. But I’ve found this hasn’t necessarily been the best mindset for innovation. And having an innovation mindset is more important than ever—a McKinsey study showed 70% of senior leaders think it’s the most critical factor for success.

Leaders say they need “creative problem-solving” from their people, and that’s definitely important. But I’ve learned a valuable, life-changing lesson from a wise, long-time friend and colleague, the late Jerry McNellis, who would say, “In business, mostly what we talk about is problem-solving, but in reality, what we have most of the time are predicaments. Problems have answers, predicaments have options.” Over time, what I’ve realized is there are a lot of “rights.” We waste a lot of time looking for the right answer when perhaps what we should be doing is exploring options. So I’ve been working on getting past the need to be right and, instead, focus on getting better at staying open-minded and asking great questions. [Read more…]

October 10, 2014 By Jasmine Freeman Leave a Comment

OFFICE DYNAMICS CONFERENCE RECAP PART I: AN EVENT OF DISTINCTION BEGINS

After so much anticipation, the Office Dynamics Conference, titled the 21st Annual Conference for Administrative Excellence, opened on Tuesday evening September 30th with the Social Fusion Mixer. We met for cocktails outside on the resort veranda overlooking the turquoise pools and red stripe cabanas, with a Western view of the Red Rock National Preserve.

Attendees mixed and mingled eagerly, re-connecting with old friends and quickly making new ones. The weather was sweet and the atmosphere ideal for conversation, with background music soft enough to easily talk and share. Meanwhile, the Office Dynamics team including Joan Burge and the conference’s featured expert presenters like Julie Perrine, Chrissy Scivique and Lucy Brazier flowed through the space, helping connect people with industry peers and mentors, sharing stories and smiles. The group was a mix of returning attendees and first timers, all excited about the days to come, with participants having traveled from all corners of the US, Canada, and even Israel! Professionals hailed from a diversity of industries [Read more…]