May 3, 2016 By Jasmine Freeman 5 Comments

Entry-Level Jobs Teach Great Lessons to Those Willing to Learn

The average employee stays at a job for just 4.6 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. College graduates will usually take their first steps into their career path either as an intern or entry-level employee with the hope to propel their career forward. Those first jobs are full of ups and downs with disappointments and surprising successes along the way.

But whether you landed your dream job or are just hoping to pay the rent, the most important thing is to make the most of your first job and lay a foundation for your career. Here are some of the best lessons from entry-level jobs: [Read more…]

January 29, 2016 By Jasmine Freeman 6 Comments

Administrative Competency Assessment

Am I A Good Assistant?

How I used an administrative competency assessment to measure my skill level in the administrative field.

Use this assessment for executive and administrative assistants as a tool to measure your skill level.

Several years ago I was preparing for my first annual review with my new executive, Joan Burge, Founder and CEO of Office Dynamics International. I wanted to be ready for anything when we sat down together to discuss my progress and my skill set as her Chief Executive Assistant.

As I was looking for some ideas on how to prepare, I came across a document that labeled and provided a measurement of the core administrative competencies. The assessment listed several main functions under each competency to measure an individual’s performance. I remembered this document from some one-on-one coaching that Joan did with her high-level executive assistant clients. She would have the assistant and the executive fill out separate assessments and they would meet afterward to discuss the ratings.

GET YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSESSMENT HERE!

I decided I should do a self-assessment before my big review. [Read more…]

January 28, 2016 By Jasmine Freeman 3 Comments

Inspiring Business Leaders: 5 of the Most Influential Women

These 5 influential women are inspiring business leaders.

According to a report published by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the gender gap in business is still very real and not likely to go away by itself. One of the recommended drivers in truncating this gap is to acknowledge the success that women have had in the global business environment. Noting their achievements helps both women and men develop new traditions that may create an equitable business world. [Read more…]

September 25, 2015 By Joan Burge 5 Comments

Are You Too Busy for The Most Important Partner In Your Office? The Importance of Daily Huddles

I recently received a request for advice from an assistant named Kathryn. She posed a typical problem that I have heard for years and I want to respond to her question in a blog as I bet many executive and administrative assistants run into the same problem. My challenge will be answering this concisely because I have a lot to say about executives and assistants meeting daily, whether it is on the telephone or in person.

I have 20 years of experience as an assistant who used to have daily huddles with my executives. In fact, I was quite young when a top executive taught me about daily huddles—how to have them; what to discuss; benefits reaped from holding our huddles. I was fortunate to learn at a young age that daily huddles or brief meetings between an executive and assistant are the most important part of the day and the partnership.

I also have more than 25 years as an executive who meets with her assistant on a regular basis. I know firsthand, as an executive, that these daily huddles are vital to team success, productivity, synergy, preventing crises and reducing rework. I am a firm believer in daily huddles, touch base or one-on-one meetings, whichever you prefer to call them. The idea is that you meet on a regular basis, in person or on the telephone.

Here is what Kathryn wrote me: [Read more…]

April 27, 2015 By Joan Burge 7 Comments

Growing New Habits

Good morning and welcome to the last week of April. Brian Tracy is a favorite author, speaker, and consultant who I have admired for two decades. I’d like to share something with you that he said and then build upon it.

“Success is 95% habit. Successful people are those who have developed good habits and follow them over and over. Unsuccessful people have poor habits or don’t have good habits. If you develop good habits, they become automatic. Your success and your happiness are virtually guaranteed.” [Read more…]

August 11, 2014 By Jasmine Freeman Leave a Comment

BIG Action Begins With An Action Plan

This week’s Monday Motivator is written by Jasmine Freeman, Vice President and Chief Executive Assistant to Joan Burge.

Hello, Monday Motivators!

Joan declared 2014 to be the year of BIG! Each month she’s taken a different topic and shared its importance to living your BIG life in her Monday Motivators. This month, the focus is on ACTION.

When you think about your BIG dreams and goals in each of the 5 pillars you likely have at least one goal in each of those areas of your life. I know I have several! Yet, speaking to you today about action and having an action plan has been a daunting task for me. I personally feel lost in a few of my own pillars right now. How can I possibly give advice to others? [Read more…]