One of the key facets of branding in careers is reputation. What is your reputation and how does one build on it?
 
One’s level of professionalism is a vital piece of that puzzle and working in an office environment is not the sole measure of defining professionalism.
 


Here are three benchmarks that help establish professionalism.
 
1. Punctuality
    Is the staff member on time for work, on time with deliverables?

2. Quality
    Is the work quality consistent and high-level?

3. Collaboration
    Is the staff member easy to work alongside? Are communications direct, clear, and delivered in a        timely fashion?
 
These benchmarks apply to administrative professionals as much, or more so than all other staff.
 
Here are three additional ways you can boost your level of professionalism
 
1. Attire.
   Like it or not, appearance does matter. Doing our best means wearing clothes that have no tears,         missing buttons and so on. Making certain that our wardrobe is workplace appropriate in terms of       modesty and fit.
 
2. Manners
  Take the time to not only say, “Please” and “Thank you” but, to acknowledge the assistance or              contributions of others to your success. Be sure your gratitude is genuine. No one respects a phony.    It can be as simple as a post-it ‘thank you’ note left on a peer’s desk.
 
3. Pay It Forward
  Did you learn something new at a recent conference or meeting? Or, happen to come across a            fantastic tip on pivot tables in Excel on social media? Or, learn about a free webinar? Then, share it!    Share this knowledge with your team or mention it during a lunch break. Pay it forward. You will          begin to gain a reputation as go-to resource for learning new things!
 
While there are hundreds of books on building careers and thriving in the workplace, not a great percentage of these spend time evaluating the career value of professionalism. Invest in building upon this unheralded foundation of establishing your reputation and building upon your career.
​
 Kem Foley is the talent behind Admin Renegade, she is an inspirational, down to earth and funny lady. I would recommend that you follow her blog, connected with her on Twitter @officerenegade

She is presenting at Executive Secretary Live in London on one of my favourite topics and that is storytelling and let me assure you, she is one of the very best in the business. Not to be missed! 

Hear from Kem in her own words 

This blog was originally created at the request of Office Dynamics, for more great articles from Office Dynamics please visit http://officedynamics.com/blog/



You know that awkward moment in the interview when they ask you about your areas of excellence, or that moment you need to introduce yourself to someone new at a business networking event (and your response sounds a bit rehearsed) or you run into the CEO in the elevator and she wants to know who you are and what you do at the company.
If you have ever felt vulnerable or embarrassed in these situations you need a Brand Story and Part two of this series is just for you!

So what is a brand story?
Well, it is like an elevator pitch, just not as robotic or plastic! It is a true story about your talents and gifts. It is something that can be recited at will without rehearsal because it is TRUE and comes from your heart!

So let’s get practical.

Step 1 Make a list of what you are really good at/recent achievements (at least 10)
I am being literal here, so write down your areas of excellence and recent successes. Doing this on paper or on your laptop takes it out of your head and makes it more concrete.

Step 2 Stuck? That is totally normal. Time to consult with a friend or colleague
It is funny (but maybe sad) that I have done this exercise with hundreds of assistants from across the world and writing down their strengths is a major challenge, but on the flip side you can ask them about their development or problem areas and they can give you two dozen without missing a beat. If you are stuck, just know that this is normal.
The solution is to consult with a trusted friend or colleague to help you compile your list. This is very useful because they might mention things you have not even thought about and also help you do a reality check on your existing list.
The key is to be open to the feedback.

Step 3 Trim down the list to 6 (but NOT less than 4)
Go through the list and pick your top 6. Trim it down for maximum impact. Eliminate similar skills or merge items that can be grouped logically.

Step 4 Rank from 1 to 6 (1 being best)
As the title suggests look at your list and prioritise. Again the help of a trusted advisor will be valuable if you are unsure.

Step 5 Write a concise, strong, short and clear one liner about this skill
Do a one liner for each of the 6 skills/abilities. Keep it simple and direct (research has proven that people will rate you are more intelligent if you use simple language, so don’t try and be too fancy)
Avoid clichés like I am an excellent team player, I work well without supervision, I am a perfectionist. All of these things may be true but if you can’t find a more original way of expressing the same idea then please omit it altogether.

EXAMPLE OF A BRAND STORY

1. If I commit, I deliver
2. I am not shy and I take big risks
3. I am a connector of people and ideas
4. I have passion
5. I am kind and enjoy people
6. I am a time management expert and I get things done.

Step 6 Test this Brand Story on yourself and your inner circle
Test drive your brand story. Does it feel real? Would you be embarrassed to tell someone your brand story, if yes, it needs more work.
It should be true, it should be natural and easy to articulate. Get feedback from others once you are ready to share.

Use your brand story to update your cv, Linkedin or to position yourself for the next opportunity that comes your way. This is a very powerful tool to “sell” your brand in an authentic way and I hope that you find these tips useful.

If you have questions or problems with creating your brand story you are welcome to reach out to me via my Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/PA-20-Upgrade-Yourself-530299150373650/ or Twitter @anelmartin I am always happy to help!
​
Anel Martin is a former awarding winning administrative assistant from South Africa (now based in Dubai) who now works as a full time trainer and Results Based Coach. Her goal is to help assistants to find their voices and their confidence. She is a published author and the book is titled “The Executive Secretary Guide to Building a powerful personal brand” https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1539535576/ visit her website for more free resources, information and services www.anelmartin.co.za
 

It happens to all of us, you go through a day, a week (or sometimes longer) when you are simply not feeling it. This lack of motivation and enthusiasm can be caused by various factors but here are some common causes:

• Feeling bored or stuck in our routine
• Not feeling that our work adds value
• Feeling that, what we do is not appreciated
• Stress (often ongoing and chronic)
• Unrealistic expectations and heavy workload
• Too much change and instability
• Being in the wrong job or company
• Bullying or difficult relationships
• Illness
• Problems at home/with family
• Financial issues

Life happens, it gets us down but we can't stay in this space and the sooner we get ourselves back on track the better.

So how can we reboot our mojo? There are some incredibly simple hacks that can help you get focused and back in the game.

1. Relax, take a time out, go for a walk. Distance from the problem and a bit of breathing room will definitely help, every time - no exceptions! Make time to chill especially when you feel you can least afford it because that is when you need it.

2. Get active, get your heart pumping. Cortisol and adrenaline build up is bad for you and exercise helps you burn these off (the natural and logical use for your fight or flight hormones)

3. Find perspective, ask yourself questions like "will this matter in five years", "what is the worst thing that can happen", "how do I approach this differently", "what can I resolve, what must I accept", "what am I not seeing about the situation" "what behaviour will they not expect from me" and "what can I do to shake things up"

4. Think about a time that you were in a flow state (when you enjoy a task so much you have no sense of time and you did the task with ease and enthusiasm) HOW DO WE CREATE MORE FLOW? HOW DO I BRING FLOW TO WORK?

5. Be grateful. Gratitude fixes so many things

6. Monitor your inner dialogue and avoid negative words and thoughts. Negativity will create and attract more negativity. This is very hard you will fall into this trap but reset and try again, do not wallow. 

7. Procrastination is literally having your mojo for breakfast. Make a list of what needs to be done, do the most distasteful, challenging items FIRST. By doing the yucky stuff (like minutes) first you free up the rest of the day without the guilt of the items you have been putting off. Procrastination eats your joy, your confidence and your energy. 

8. Get ORGANISED and START MAKING PLANS - by taking charge, making decisions and taking action you can move yourself from where you are to where you want to be. By blaming others or treading water you are accepting your current situation and you have chosen to be a victim. Choice is powerful, action even more so! 

8. How you sleep really matters. If you don't feel energetic and well rested you will be much more vulnerable to stress, less creative and resilient. IF YOU HAVE SLEEP ISSUES YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO IT!

9. Have some fun, change your routine, try something new, learn something! 

10. Focus on creating connections with people. Say hello to people or simply smile. Reach out to that friend you have been meaning to call since last week. Send your mother some flowers!

11. Volunteer, step up, accept a challenge, do something you don't think you can do - your comfort zone is what keeps you stuck. If it scares you a little you should really consider trying it out!

I really hope that these tips will help you as much as they have helped me. Find the love again this Feb. Get excited about your life, have some adventures!

And may the Mojo be with you!

So until next time
​HUGS FROM DXB