"I’ve always had something to shoot for each year: to jump one inch further. "
—Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Olympic Track and Field Gold medalist

"We define ourselves by the best that is in us, not the worst that has been done to us. "
—Edward Lewis,
CEO, Essence

" You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. "
—Wayne Gretsky, hockey great

"If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living."
—Gail Sheehy

"There is always one true inner voice. Trust it."
—Gloria Steinem, writer

February 15 is National Flag Day. In what year was Canada’s familiar maple leaf flag raised for the first time?

• 1865
• 1902
• 1965
• 1972

Brainteaser answer at the end of this newsletter.

Phone: 1-800-913-1961 info@apccanada.com

A Thank You to the 2007 APC Advisory Council

The APC Advisory Council is a dynamic group of Administrative Professionals, educators, and individuals representing key associations, publications and organizations. Council members embody the unique perspectives and educational needs of Administrative Professionals. Their insights and contributions are invaluable to the development of the APC curriculum. Our thanks to this group of volunteers!

GAIL CLARK
Administrative Assistant,
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)

JOSEE GUIDON
Executive Administrative Assistant,
Financial Services,
Bank of Canada

KAREN HANNEM
Executive Assistant,
Corporate Supply Management,
Husky Injection Molding Systems, Ltd.

KATHRYN HODDER
Business Unit Leader,
Canadian Management Centre

SUSAN PROZAK
Executive Assistant to the President,
BBM Nielson Media Research

JENNIFER SPEARS
Executive Assistant,
National Procurement, Emco Corporation

GRACE CIROCCO
President,
Cirocco and Associates

Across the Harbour from the Westin

Just a mile offshore from Toronto's bustling, exciting and vibrant downtown, Toronto has beautiful islands protecting its natural harbour. The islands are a mix of public parklands, nature reserves and protected wetlands. Private cars are not permitted on the islands, and the Toronto Parks Department is responsible for maintenance of this unique natural resource in the city of Toronto. The Toronto Islands are reached by public ferry boats just steps from our APC hotel. On the island parks, the city seems far removed, and a feeling of being in the country prevails.

Do you have any of these problems? We’ve got some solutions!

Every year we ask Administrative Professionals what they feel challenged by, and it’s no surprise that a lot of you experience common problems. We use that input when we develop each year’s program. If you share any of these top challenges, there are solutions on this year’s program for you!

Problem: "Managing my workload is a huge challenge! I feel like I’m doing the work of three people at times." "Too much to do and not enough hours in the day." "Juggling work; I feel like I never get caught up."

Solutions: Our Pre-Conference Workshop, "Time Management for the Hurried and Harried Professional" might be just the ticket. See the article on that topic in this newsletter for concurrent sessions that will help. Also, plan to attend our Roundtable discussion on "Coordinating Schedules and Calendars When Your Boss is on the Go" and the session, "Mastering the Chaos of Change at Work."

Problem: "Coping with my hectic office and the stress of an increased workload!" "I feel stressed out and have a hard time balancing the stresses of work with finding time for myself."

Solutions: Check out this year’s Super Sessions on "High Octane Tools to Transform Your Stress" and "Breathe Life into Your Days: Keeping Centered and Grounded." Plus more sessions on health and wellness and a Post-Conference Workshop, "You Can Stay Productive under Pressure."

Problem: "People! Difficult people are my greatest challenge at work, and I’d like to be able to deal better with conflict." "Developing a better working relationship with my boss is critical—so is getting others to come through."

Solutions: Help is here with "Transform Conflict into Cooperation," "Difficult Conversations with Difficult People Made Easier!" plus more solutions on our Fostering Collaboration at Work track!

Problem: "Making things happen when I’m not in charge…having influence at work." "Getting respect, recognition and results!"

Solutions: The APC has a lot to offer here; a Pre-Conference Workshop on "Communicating with Influence and Tact," concurrent sessions such as, " Effective Communication Strategies to Amplify Your Authority," "Be Your Own Cheerleader! Get Your Contributions and Talents Noticed," and "Assertiveness and Owning Your Personal Power." Don’t miss the Roundtable discussion with your peers, "Getting the Recognition and Visibility You Deserve."

Problem: "Staying current and on top of new skills." "Keeping up with technology and adapting to change."

Solutions: This year’s APC offers six practical technology sessions from web searching to PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel. You can learn about finance, planning meetings and events, leadership, and how to "Chart Your Way to Career Success!"

Put This on Your Boss’s Calendar…

Did you know that Administrative Professionals Week begins April 23rd and falls during the 8th Annual Administrative Professionals Conference? The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) recommends that managers and employers observe this week by giving Administrative Professionals the gift of training. Could there be a better learning experience than spending this time with your peers at Canada’s premier event for Administrative Professionals? For some information to share with your boss about the benefits of attending APC, see our web site at www.apccanada.com.

10 Must-Have Web Sites

It's mind-boggling how much information is at our fingertips when we go online. No wonder it can get overwhelming! Yet, these days it's hard to imagine what we ever did without the Internet; online resources can save us hours every week. From currency conversion, time zones and statistics to definitions, almanacs and clip art, here are some top sites for Administrative Professionals. You might also want to check out the APC's sessions,"Google-icious: Web Searching Tools" and "Way Cool Tools: A Guide to Using Technology More Effectively."

1. http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
   Find the correct time for locations around the world, convert times to a different time zone and figure out when to have meetings
   
   
2. http://www.xe.com/
   A great guide to converting world currencies
   
   
3. http://www.infoplease.com/
   This comprehensive site offers almanacs, atlases, a dictionary and encyclopedia
   
   
4. http://canadianbusiness.com
   Everything business-related, from finance and stocks to management tips and"hot" lists
   
   
5. http://www.statcan.ca
   Statistics and information on all aspects of business, society and the economy
   
   
6. http://www.weather.com/
   Find out what the weather is anywhere—also has a travel section with airport and driving conditions
   
   
7. http://www.ceoexpress.com/default.asp
   Good management information including current news, stocks, business publications and information sources
   
   
8. http://www.refdesk.com/
   This monster site has everything under the sun: search for words, people, or other sites; get news and almanacs; facts or games…even trivia dictionaries and writing guide
   
   
9. http://www.mapquest.com/
   A good source for maps and directions
   
   
10. http://www.infospace.com/
    There’s a lot on this site, including address and phone number locators as well as reverse look-up features

Looking for an Opportunity to Shine? Find Ways to Improve Work Processes…and Boost Performance

If you’d like more visibility, look beyond your own performance. Companies today are looking at how they can fine-tune work processes and increase productivity. When you suggest improvements that make a difference to others, you’re bound to stand out and get recognition. How do you spot these opportunities for improvement? Take a page from quality improvement experts; systematically examine your department’s work flow, procedures and products. Here are three places to look:

1. Identify your “customers.” Who are the people who have a stake in how well your work is done and what you do? List those tasks and procedures that are most important to them. What do they need and expect? Consider not only how you can improve your delivery, but how can you exceed their expectations?

2. What are your department’s major work processes and work products? Which have the greatest value? Consider ways that time, costs, or effort can be reduced, and where quality can be improved.

3. Take a hard look at work processes—where are there delays, errors, and complaints? What is labor intensive? Where do you see waste or unnecessary duplication? Where are deadlines missed regularly? In what area is performance inconsistent? That’s where you’ll find opportunities for improvement!

Boost performance with these APC sessions: Maximize Your Performance and Achieve Exceptional Results, Discover Your Strengths and Achieve Your Goals, Promoting High Performance Teamwork, Working on the Right Thing, and Creating Fabulous Forms.

Time Management for the Hurried and the Harried Professional

Let's face it; in the workplace and in life in general, we often seem to be on a treadmill called hurry, worry and bury. Sound familiar? The one constant in our life is change; changing roles, new demands, multiple projects, more responsibility, and constantly juggling priorities in the workplace. We are time-starved and work-hurried.

Finding order in the chaos boils down to making the most effective use of our abilities and maximizing our time management skills. To make the best use of your time:

• Understand concepts around time management, including time as a conservable (and costly) resource Identify the habits and practices that result in wasted time
  
  
• Learn practical techniques that can be used to improve productivity and satisfaction Identify specific skill areas and methods to make better use of time
  
  
• Make informed decisions about how you can manage your time and juggle priorities to your best advantage

Just think, if you can show your bosses how time is consumed, the value of your time and the cost of wasted time, do you think they would pay closer attention to providing you with tools that will make you even more effective? Studies indicate that the average executive wastes thousands of dollars in productivity each year searching for lost information: You will grab and hold their attention if you can show them how their time management practices (or lack thereof) impact the bottom line. Techniques to help you control time and make it work for you will make you both more efficient and a lot less stressed!

This article was contributed by Karen Rae Short, trainer and APC faculty. Karen started her career as an Administrative Professional. After several years in management and with experience in a variety of people-oriented and professional environments, she understands the impact and demands of an ever-changing workplace.

If time management is an issue for you, you’ll want to attend the author’s Pre-Conference Workshop of the same name, or look for these concurrent sessions; Getting Things Done Through Others, Juggling Priorities in a Busy Workplace and Working on the Right Thing.

Brainteaser answer:
At the stroke of noon on February 15, 1965, Canada's red and white maple leaf flag was raised for the very first time.