After the Performance Review: Preparing for the Year Ahead

By Sheryl McAtee   May 27, 2021
Categories: HR Training, Management, Supervision & Leadership Tags: performance review

 At their best, performance reviews should be the start of a two-way dialogue that will last the entire year. Here are some tips: Acknowledge that the performance review— while important— is a moment in time over the course of a year. One conversation is unlikely to change the course of history, so decide what groundwork…
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Staying Present in a Performance Review – Key Tips

By Sheryl McAtee   May 27, 2021
Categories: HR Training, Management, Supervision & Leadership Tags: performance review

Even with effective planning, performance reviews can take many turns during the conversation.  Here are some common patterns that can occur in the conversation, and ways to keep things on track and focused on outcomes. Start with identifying projects or tasks that were key areas of focus for the year. Ask the employee what went…
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Tips: Preparing to Give a Performance Review

By Sheryl McAtee   May 27, 2021
Categories: HR Training, Management, Supervision & Leadership Tags: performance reviews, reviews

It’s time to evaluate your employees’ performance, and as with many important conversations, effective preparation is key.  Your first step should be to objectively reflect on each person’s contributions over the past year. Here are some tips: It is easy to consider only the past few weeks when considering performance—a recent win or problem can…
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Improve Work by Stepping Away for Life

By Sheryl McAtee   May 3, 2021
Categories: Self-Improvement Tags: mental health, Work-Life, Work-Life Balance

Work/life balance is a fluid concept! Sometimes, workplace demands and projects require increased focus— other times, family life needs to take center stage.  When work demands are high, many people try to power through— sometimes out of enjoyment for the work, sometimes out of a sense of obligation to deliver and sometimes because it is…
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Work-Life Balance for Remote Workers

By Sheryl McAtee   May 3, 2021
Categories: Professional Development, Self-Improvement Tags: mental health, Work-Life, Work-Life Balance

For many people, the work experience has significantly changed over the past year.  Work-from-home arrangements are becoming more standard, and more people are teleworking more regularly.  Many organizations are finding that the resulting productivity is high, despite the distance and empty cubicles. So, what does work-life balance look like in a work-from-home world? The traditional…
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Five Ways to Improve Your Work-Life Balance

By Sheryl McAtee   May 3, 2021
Categories: Self-Improvement Tags: mental health, Work-Life, Work-Life Balance

In difficult and uncertain times, finding work-life balance can be a daily challenge.  This is particularly true when work and school schedules collide, or when there are too many demands for any one person to handle. Here are five ways to recalibrate if your work-life balance is out of whack: Pause to consider how your…
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Looking Ahead with Your Administrative Professional

By Sheryl McAtee   March 29, 2021
Categories: Administrative Assistant & Front Desk Tags: administrative professionals' day

The last year has led to profound changes in most workplaces – even when operations continued, you may have seen fewer customers face-to-face, you may have moved more customer service activities online or you may be interacting with customers differently in the front office.  Your front desk operations, supply purchasing, inventory management, mail handing and…
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Reassessing and Realigning Roles with Your Administrative Assistant

By Sheryl McAtee   March 29, 2021
Categories: Administrative Assistant & Front Desk Tags: administrative professionals' day

Administrative assistants are often the first voices that customers and important stakeholders encounter – online, on the phone or in person.  Even virtual front desks play a vital role in taking in calls, screening incoming requests, and setting up meetings.  Other administrative assistants may be more back-office focused, interacting with fewer people, but engaging in…
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Celebrating Your Administrative Professional

By Sheryl McAtee   March 29, 2021
Categories: Administrative Assistant & Front Desk Tags: administrative professionals' day

For many Administrative Professionals, the last year brought a lot of change.  Some moved to a work-at-home environment, with profound changes to their daily tasks.  Others stayed or returned to the front desk, gathering the mail, sending out supplies, watering plants and taking care of an often-remote workforce and customer base. Celebrating Administrative Professional’s Day…
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The Ethics of Telework – The Employee Perspective

By Sheryl McAtee   March 1, 2021
Categories: HR Training Tags: business ethics, ethics

Over the past year, more and more workplaces have embraced telework or work from home – and some may never go back to a full presence in the office.  Telework offers many benefits for employees, but it also requires a high level of trust.  Ethical behavior by employees is essential for maintaining that trust in…
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