Thanks very much for visiting my site. I've temporarily brought this page down as I work on a ebook that tightens up and extends the ideas. Please contact me if you'd like me to help you improve your executive-to-assistant productivity, or if you'd like permission to use these ideas elsewhere. Thanks!
matt
Comments
Best practices for GTD and administrative assistants
This article is very nice.but if the details mentioned above is not enough if they elaborately given means it will be better.
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nancyfernandez
How to Retain Your Super Star Managers
Nancy - thanks for your
Nancy - thanks for your comment, and for the suggestion of fleshing it out better. I started with this as a raw collection of ideas, which I've since solidified during my consulting.
e. donovan & JPS: I believe
e. donovan & JPS: I believe the recommendation re: phone logs is based on the danger of tracking action in the log, rather than in a central list (next actions). Keeping the log is fine, but I recommend marking action and waiting for items in the log, then processing the log (the new pages, that is) into your system along with every other new piece of stuff.
Once actions have been "harvested," the log then becomes simply a reference tool, which is fine.
I'll probably write about this in more detail...
I, too, am curious as to why
I, too, am curious as to why phone logs are bad. I have just begun a journaling practice in which I try to note each conversation. Is this different than the phone log you refer to?
Why are phone logs bad? B/c
Why are phone logs bad? B/c not enough details? B/c if you use GTD methods for processing it's another system to keep track of?
Here's a good comment from
Here's a good comment from Merlin's post:
Laura M. Says:
I’m an AdminAssist.-not big fan of being called AA =). I work with several people so mainly I used GTD methods to organize my own work as my team has very different understandings of best practices for working. =) Luckily, execs in my team are fairly independent and are expected to take resp. of their own agendas, calls, mails, etc. We rely mainly on GroupWise for emails and agendas. In my own opinion, a succesful delegation of tasks will depend mostly on the initiative your admin. shows, her ability and degree to work independently, your trust on her work and knowing how much she can really deal with.
What works best for me as collecting inbox is email, since I can keep track of the tasks and process them according to GTD methods.
Just to let you know, Merlin
Just to let you know, Merlin picked this up over at 43folders (neat!), where one of the comments refers to the podcast Your Admin and Your Email, which in turn points to these related podcasts:
o Manager Tools » Blog Archive » Effective Executive/Efficient Assistant (Part 1)
o Manager Tools » Blog Archive » Effective Executive/Efficient Assistant (Part 2 of 3)
o Manager Tools » Blog Archive » Effective Executive/Efficient Assistant (Part 3 of 3)
Here’s a brief outline of the 3-part Series:
1. Part 1
* The Role of the Executive
* The Role of the Admin
* The Single Biggest Roadblock
2. Part 2
* Managing the Executive’s Schedule
3. Part 3
* Managing the Executive’s Office
* Managing the Executive’s Relationships
* Managing the Executive’s Administrative Deliverables
I'll give a listen and update accordingly. Thanks!
Thanks for the pointer,
Thanks for the pointer, Matt. Good stuff:
o Screen calls
o Keep your schedule
o Do your filing, typing, copying, and some research.
o Run errands
o Prepare cards for you to sign and send
o Organize receipts for reimbursements
o Type and file handwritten notes
o Sit in on meetings and take notes.
I also liked your additional points ("Make sure she’s in the know about projects and events," etc.)
Well done; thanks for reading!
Thanks for these ideas,
Thanks for these ideas, Matt. I wrote about something similiar a couple months ago, although not strictly from a GTD perspective, on my site churchhacks.com. I put together tips for pastors working with an assistant/secretary in a church environment. I'll make mention of your post on my site to go along with what I've written very soon. Thanks again!
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