The Crodie Files

This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. https://www.autograph-events.co.uk Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners! Ever wondered when the right time might be to call it a day and explore fresh opportunities beyond your current job? You're not alone. We're diving headfirst into a robust discussion on recognizing the right moment to move on and the art of navigating the choppy waters of job searching. We tackle harsh realities like toxic work environments and the importance of empathy and loyalty in the ever-evolving job market. Take a walk with us as we explore the outside world and its opportunities that may seem like a distant horizon to you right now, but could soon be your reality. Our guest for this episode is Flo Hancox, director of Autograph Events who expertly answers our listener question on arranging internal office events. We leave no stone unturned, providing you with tangible tips on researching salaries, and job opportunities. Brave the discomfort of discussing earnings and salaries and learn the importance of feeling at ease with your income. Finally, we share our mantra of 'network, learn, grow’ and how it can set you on a path to career success and provide a glimpse of our next episode discussing administrative assistance and tech. Support the showPlease support us Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode. Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes. Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth. Follow and contact us on our socials Website LinkedIn Pinterest X TikTok

This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. https://www.autograph-events.co.uk Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners! In this episode of The Crodie Files, Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears discuss the typical tasks of an administrative assistant, emphasising the need to go beyond these tasks and take initiative to add value to the role. They cover good communication skills, proactive work and effective email communication, as well as delving into how different learning styles impact how teams work. Thank you to our listener who sent in a "Hi Crodie..." question: "How can I manage files and folders in a cloud-based system? What I am doing now is old-fashioned and I would like something new and innovative. Any suggestions?" If you would like to get involved, send in your "Hi Crodie..." question via our website Guest contributor- Shelley Fishel, the MS Office Maestro -world-renowned trainer and speaker shares expert insights on using Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft 365 applications for increasing efficiencies, including the new MS Loop app! Check out Shelley's website for many masterclasses and training options. Value Bombs “Be proactive and anticipate needs is my tip"- Craig Bryson "Really get to grips on timezones!" - Jodie Mears “Generalised tasks are a thing of the past, that kind of rhymes, but I really feel we are on that edge.” - Jodie Mears Support the showPlease support us Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode. Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes. Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth. Follow and contact us on our socials Website LinkedIn Pinterest X TikTok

This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. https://www.autograph-events.co.uk Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners! In this episode, hosts Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears discuss the evolving role of Executive Assistants in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), including Chat GPT. They address the concerns around potential job redundancy, the future of the Assistant's role and stress the importance of staying curious, learning about AI, and using it to enhance efficiencies. Listener Lauren Foster asks an important question which expert guest David Philp, Chief Value Officer at Cohesive Group, shares his insights on AI's opportunities and challenges for Executive Assistants. Value Bombs "One of the things I believe is the role of the Executive PA/EA is incredibly important to well-performing organisations" - David Philp CVO Cohesive Group "Be curious, ask questions, stay on top of the technology, don't shy away from it"- Jodie Mears "Download an AI app and then just give it a go- try it, don't fear it" - Craig Bryson Support the showPlease support us Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode. Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes. Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth. Follow and contact us on our socials Website LinkedIn Pinterest X TikTok

This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. https://www.autograph-events.co.uk Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners! In this episode of The Crodie Files, hosts Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears delve into the complexities of building effective relationships with executives. They discuss key questions to ask, share personal experiences, and offer valuable insights on how to establish trust and understand an executive's priorities. The listener question on improving collaboration with executives is addressed as well as a VA-related question answered by guest contributor Suzy Sanders, founder of Alchemy Virtual Assistants, who sheds light on the differences between Executive Assistants and Virtual Assistants. Value Bombs "What does a virtual assistant do compared to an executive assistant?" - Lauren Foster "Real-life listener questions from you, our audience who are live in the roles of EAs, PAs, VAs, and all business office support roles." - Jodie Mears Support the showPlease support us Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode. Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes. Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth. Follow and contact us on our socials Website LinkedIn Pinterest X TikTok

This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. https://www.autograph-events.co.uk Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners! In this episode, hosts Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears provide essential tips for Administrative Assistants starting a new job. They emphasize preparation, authentic networking, and self-confidence. Seasoned Executive Assistant Erica Picton shares her insights in response to our listener question, and Laura Smith- The Energy Coach offers advice on managing burnout and self-improvement. Also, discover the importance of company intranets and name memorization techniques. Value Bombs "Make it your own because you know that you are good at what you do, but you are in a new environment, so you need to know the processes and the platforms." - Craig Bryson "My tips for you are to give yourself as much time before you start to read as much info as you can on the company; for example, find out what systems they use and brush up if need be, If you feel you are a little bit rusty on some of your skills." - Erica Picton Laura Smith- Energy & Wellbeing Coach: https://linktr.ee/LauraSmithlifestyle Support the showPlease support us Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode. Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes. Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth. Follow and contact us on our socials Website LinkedIn Pinterest X TikTok

This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. https://www.autograph-events.co.uk Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners! In this exciting episode, hosts Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears delve into acing job interviews. They'll share personal stories and offer tips to help you nail the interview and land your dream job. Be authentic, prepare by researching the company, and maintain a tidy background for online interviews. Have questions ready for the interviewer and update your LinkedIn profile and CV tailored to the role. Special guest Steve Hutson, a recruitment expert and Founder of Superstars, will discuss connecting during interviews and honesty in responses. Get ready to ace that job interview! Value Bombs “We try to put ourselves in that person's shoes, trying to impress them to get the job. I think what I've started learning now is that I'm just going to be myself. You know? This is who I am; these are my skills. Are you going to hire me?” – Craig Bryson “You obviously need to be earning what you're worth and what you're expected to do needs to reflect that salary.” – Jodie Mears Support the showPlease support us Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode. Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes. Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth. Follow and contact us on our socials Website LinkedIn Pinterest X TikTok

This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. https://www.autograph-events.co.uk Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners! In this podcast episode, Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears chat about the path to becoming an executive assistant. They highlight crucial skills like organisation, communication, and great customer service. Learning and networking are also key points that are addressed. They share their experiences, emphasising the evolving role of an executive assistant due to technology. Also building self-confidence and trust with executives are top priorities. Then listeners Karen and Aldo contribute their own perspectives, making this episode a must-listen for anyone considering the executive assistant role. They finish the episode with tips for aspiring executive assistants, discussing skill identification, boosting confidence, and staying up-to-date with technical advances. Value Bombs “You've got to be a people person. A great communicator. An effective communicator. You have that customer service mind-set. And by that, don't always think that I mean an external customer. You can think of your internal team as your customer.” – Jodie Mears “If you don't know something, reach out to your network and everybody comes fighting back with answers and quick tips.” – Craig Bryson Support the showPlease support us Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode. Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes. Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth. Follow and contact us on our socials Website LinkedIn Pinterest X TikTok

This episode is sponsored by Autograph Events - THE experts in providing a complete event management solution – from free global venue finding through to full onsite event management. https://www.autograph-events.co.uk Connect today and ask more about the collaborative promotion for our listeners! Welcome to the first podcast of Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears: our amazing executive assistants. In this episode, we learn one of the most valuable lessons which is to be prepared and proactive. We also embrace adaptability and diverse skills for unexpected career growth, just like Craig's journey from bartending to administrative excellence. Customer service experience is brought up as a powerful asset too. Together let us embrace the evolving nature of administrative roles by continuously learning and staying ahead. Value Bombs “The Global Skills Matrix is a globally recognized framework for administrators and teams that, irrespective of country; makes it possible to identify different levels of work for a given role and career progression opportunities to realise the potential to an organisation of an effective administrator.” – Jodie Mears “That's where your execs always say, work your magic, because they don’t know what's happening in the background because it all just happens naturally.” – Craig Bryson We would like to thank Amy Lester for her poem! Amy Lester Virtual Assistance, Project Management, Outsourcing, Personal Assistance, Executive Administrative Assistance: https://www.typingandtasks.com We would also like to thank The Global Skills Matrix, created by The World Administrators Alliance (WAA), for allowing us to mention their brilliant work and a huge thank you to Lucy Brazier OBE and Helen Monument, for their relentless pursuit of driving the profession forward and bringing awareness to all Office Professionals globally. To learn more about the Global Skills Matrix, Lucy Brazier OBE & Helen Monument, click here Support the showPlease support us Help us stay visible to you by sharing this episode with someone in your circle as well as following and subscribing so you never miss an episode. Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes. Got questions? Don't hesitate to submit them via our website. Buckle up and join us on this journey of discovery and personal growth. Follow and contact us on our socials Website LinkedIn Pinterest X TikTok