Ultimate Assistant Training & Consulting Inc.

The smart money is on training. If retaining your high-producing staff is a top priority, investing in their professional development through training is a smart way to make that happen. This is especially true for the administrative staff in companies. Read my article for Training magazine called: Unlocking Potential: The ROI of Training Administrative Professionals

✈️ I feel so honored. When two powerhouse leaders invite you to London to deliver the keynote speech at a gala awards event for Personal Assistants, there could only be one answer. That invitation came from the extraordinary Sarah Howson and Marianne Whitlock to speak at the Strategic PA Network Awards. I cannot wait to be in a room of 200 ultimate assistants, the women and men who are committed to lifelong learning and who seek excellence every day in the profession they love. Those are my people. Join me to celebrate and honor these hard-working and so deserving PAs on Monday, Nov 4, 6-10PM at The Grove Hotel. This American is looking forward to crossing the pond for our international meeting of the minds. https://lnkd.in/eJT6YEdA

When I was asked for my thoughts about workplace bullying by Tribune writer Kathleen Furore, in my head I was thinking, how much time have you got? Here’s one of my comments: “Be ready to act immediately following the bullying. Stay calm, direct, and clear. The bottom line is that no job is worth tolerating bullying of any kind.” The stories I hear about workplace bullying from assistants all over the world are jaw-dropping and unacceptable. The cycle of bullying must be broken and that will only happen with awareness, accountability and a strong commitment from leaders willing to address the problem. Check out the article and if it resonates, please share it. https://lnkd.in/e8TdewRV

🎧Many thanks to Training magazine and OpenSesame for inviting me to speak about leveraging the staff already on your payroll. I had a great time yesterday on the webinar. We had Learning & Development leaders, HR professionals, Executive Assistants and business owners from all over the US and Canada. Thrilled to report that 100% of them said that they were glad they showed up! We did some polling and the results were fascinating for everybody. Here’s the replay so you can see them for yourself. https://lnkd.in/eAQJcP9m If you care about L&D, be sure to check out all of the great free webinars offered by Training magazine Network. And if you are seeking training for your team around these issues, let’s talk.

2024 is not an easy time to work as a manager. For starters, no one ever prepared managers for a remote or hybrid workforce. That’s why I wanted to shine a light on the subject in this article for Business Management Daily. What I know for sure, is that the job of a manager will be made easier by leaning on the team members they painstakingly hired in the first place. Everyone was hired for a reason, even the managers. I welcome your thoughts on the article and feel free to share your experience as a manager. https://lnkd.in/eUzKXx8e

The London Times asked me about the darkest side of working as a celebrity assistant. It is not an easy read, but it is a truthful one and far away from being glamorous.

Who knew there was so much in common between the military and the workplace? I didn’t, but now I do. It was such a pleasure to talk with Simon Kardynal, CD, MA, host of the Trench Leadership Podcast. He is an active member of the Canadian Department of Defense and the father of a daughter who is now in the workplace. Yes, we had quite a lot to discuss about staff matters, including gender discrimination and workplace bullying. I love how fearless Simon is to tackle the reality of what is happening in our new workplace. Check out the episode here. https://bit.ly/3sBirSQ If our conversation resonates, please share it with others.

Men represent only 3-7% of the world’s Executive and Personal Assistants. Most companies have one or two, some have more and some have none. It’s no wonder there is curiosity about what it’s really like for men. I was curious and so I asked Kevin Sames to collaborate on an article on this subject and I was surprised by some of the content. If you are curious too, get ready to take a walk in their shoes. I am grateful to all the contributors (Jeremy Burrows, Prakshal Dalal, Dusty Klesner, CAP, Ike Saunders) and to Executive Support Magazine for their support in exploring this subject. We’d love to know your experience in the comments below. https://lnkd.in/d_XHAvaJ

So honored to be coming back to Barrie, Ontario on June 14th! My half-day session will be interactive and designed to light fires, plant seeds, and build confidence. Join us for a jam-packed day that will educate, celebrate, motivate, and inspire you to take action as the CEO of You, Inc. The most successful assistants in 2024 are the ones who view themselves as leaders and strategic business partners. The stakes are high and assistants bear serious influence. Powering up and taking charge of your career is what this day will be about. Register now. https://lnkd.in/endfsm52 AAP Barrie Simcoe

RIP Bette Nash of American Airlines. I'll bet she had some pretty crazy stories! Thank you for crashing those stereotypes.