Being Indispensable

A solo episode celebrating 100 episodes of the podcast. Celebrating you, the lovely listener. Celebrating me for sticking with this project and celebrating serendipity for the turn of events that guided me to the role of Executive Assistant and in turn inspired me to start a podcast in the first place. Thank you for listening and for all of your support for what I do. If you're interested in my book you can find details at www.lizvanvliet.com Orders within Australia can be made via the website and via Amazon for outside Australia. 

Linda Emslie escaped the corporate rat-race and embraced a new career as a Transformation and Wellbeing specialist running her business Lovlali and using Reiki and massage to help her clients manage high stress loads, chronic pain or illness and multiple responsibilities.  In this episode Linda shares some simple practises that will help you manage the stress and anxiety of the Covid-19 lockdown and virtual work environment and ensure that you are supporting your nervous system and doing the things that will help you stay well. Connect with Linda via her website www.lovlali.com 

In this solo episode I share with you the reasons behind my announcement that I am rebranding the business side of Being Indispensable under the banner My EA Career.  Learn more about my approach to Executive Assistant training and development at myeacareer.com  

Throughout her career, Michelle Broadbent has been the eyes and ears for intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs across an array of industries. She has helped business owners build and diversify, increase their profits and transform their lives. In other words she has been a Linchpin assistant delivering tangible business results. Her clients describe her as "calm, centred and utterly unflappable" and say she is "the engine room" in their business. Wow! She is absolutely the person people love having in their corner and whether you are working with an intrapreneur (ie someone inside a large organisation) or see yourself building your own Virtual Assistant business in the future support solopreneurs and entrepreneurs, you can learn something from listening to Michelle talk about what she does and how she does it.  To find out more about Michelle, go to her website https://www.michellebroadbent.com.au/ Connect with Michelle on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/michbroadbent/ Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn at ht

A bit of fun with my daughter who is self-isolating at home during her first year at university. She is sharing a home office with me and so has been listening to me conduct interviews and decided she needed to have her moment in the podcast limelight (it's been a long time coming). We hope you enjoy it x

For many of us the Covid-19 pandemic will mean the first time we're working from home. Presenting your best self online in whatever virtual setting you find yourself is important to managing the perception of your boss and co workers as well as other key stakeholders. This weeks episode is an interview with Kaye Ure from Styling Individuals. We cover Kaye's tops for setting up a physical environment to ensure you look professional on screen and she also shares tips for how to adjust your clothing and makeup for a virtual context. Kaye has an offer at the moment for individuals that want to work with her 1:1 to set themselves up for success. Contact her at kaye@stylingindivuals.com for more information. Connect with Kaye on Instagram as well to see how she works with clients and ensures they look great and feel confident.

In these times of volatility and uncertainty it can feel like we can't control anything. In this short episode I just wanted to encourage you that your mindset matters SO much right now. We can't control what is happening but we can control how we react to it. Remember, you are the boss of your own mind and looking after your own mental and physical health is something you can and should do. Sending you love and support during these trying times.

A solo episode where I share three techniques/tips that I find invaluable. I've chosen these three specifically because I use them all the time in my coaching They are techniques I use personally (really important because I believe in walking the talk and not recommending something that I haven’t used myself) All three of them will help you be more effective and show up differently in your interpersonal relationships at work and with your manager/s. Find out more about my coaching and training at my website www.beingindispensable.com Follow me on social at Lizveevee and Being Indispensable  

Welcome to 2020. In this road rambling* episode Liz explores how social media can leave us feeling overwhelmed amidst the onslaught of posts telling us that we need to have big plans and big ideas and if not, there's courses we can sign up for and people to show us how to get ourselves sorted.....but we don't need to jump on this bandwagon. Instead, we can set realistic expectations for how we might proceed in 2020 without setting ourselves up for any FOMO or letting comparison be the thief of joy. The reality is that for many Executive Assistants the pressures that were there when we logged out on Christmas Eve are still there and even worse when we come back after New Year and learning how to navigate this is more valuable to you. So, here's to 2020 and me helping you feel more effective and able to expand your circle of influence.  Oh and there's some rambling about where I'm at and what my priorities are right now and for 2020 (the word family gets mentioned quite a bit). *Road Rambling refers to the way

Wishing all my listeners a safe and happy Christmas. This episode is a wrap up of my year. I hope you enjoy listening to it and look forward to bringing you more episodes of Being Indispensable in 2020.

Today's episode is all about why it’s essential to understand your manager’s preferred communication style. How to think about and evaluate this and some tools and resources to help you explore this area of knowledge for yourself.  Resources discussed in this episode: Being Indispensable Ep 32: Building A strategic partnership with your exec Being Indispensable Ep 48: How to interview your boss to clarify expectations Being Indispensable Ep 57: Five tips to help EA’s manage up Being Indispensable Ep 64: Indispensable Skills: Managing your manager HBR Article "Figure Out Your Manager's Communication Style" Office Dynamics Communications Style Quiz Fast Company article "These are 4 styles of communication that you need to know" Find out more about how I can tailor a training workshop for your company's needs at www.beingindispensable.com

The sixth in a series on POWER Skills for Indispensable Assistants. These are often called 'soft' skills but they are anything but soft.  I believe that you can be functionally competent and you can even be strategically competent and know who’s who in the zoo and understand the intangible power dynamics that operate in all organisations (both competencies are essential in my experience to being truly on your way to being perceived as indispensable). But if you soft skills are lacking or you're simply not investing in constantly developing them then you are missing the vital element that’s going to really allow you step into the space of being a truly indispensable assistant.  Resources discussed in this show: https://hbr.org/2015/12/assessment-whats-your-curiosity-profile https://hbr.org/2018/09/curiosity#the-business-case-for-curiosity Atomic Habits by James Clear Rising Strong by Brene Brown 

The fifth episode in a series about the essential POWER skills for Indispensable Assistants.  Recorded from my hotel room in Freemantle Western Australia where I've been presenting and sponsoring the 2019 Australian Institute of Office Professionals Conference.  Resources discussed today: Jonas Altman https://qz.com/work/1270483/management-today-requires-these-four-types-of-leadership/ Adam Grant TED talk: Are You A Giver Or A Taker https://www.tonyrobbins.com/career-business/are-you-a-leader-at-work/

AIOP 2019 National Conference - Liz has two tickets to giveaway. If you have the ability to get yourself to Freemantle, Western Australia then email liz@beingindispensable.com. Giveaway is for conference and workshop entry only it doesn't include travel and accomodation! Resources mentioned in this episode: http://www.oprah.com/own-super-soul-sunday/first-look-oprah-and-dr-edith-eva-eger https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7470943/The-apologetic-phrase-women-stop-using-work-ban-vocab-now.html https://www.bustle.com/p/how-to-be-more-assertive-at-work-in-3-days-according-to-experts-18755104

Welcome to the third episode in my mini-series focused on POWER skills for indispensable assistants. This week the topic is Influencing Skills. Being able to get things done needs cannot be reliant on de facto positional authority that comes via who you support.  Instead I coach and train EA's and Office Professionals to build their personal and professional reputation capital and develop strategies that allow them to effectively influence. Resources discussed in this episode: https://www.inc.com/molly-reynolds/how-to-spot-visual-auditory-and-kinesthetic-learni.html https://www.drloisfrankel.com/  

The first episode in a series of episodes I'm doing on what I call Essential POWER Skills for Indispensable Assistants. Otherwise (and inadequately) described as 'soft' skills, these are the skills that differentiate you from the pack.  You can be functionally competent and great at the bread and butter aspects of your role (essential in my opinion). You can be totally across the strategic implications of things going on in the sphere of your manager and business unit. But if you are not developing and improving your POWER skills you will not be delivering the value and effectiveness that will help to catapult your manager to their next level of effectiveness and capability.  As the enabler of your manager, demonstrating and developing these POWER skills is vital and will position you as an Indispensable Assistant. Links to topics discussed: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140716064410-14771168-do-you-have-conversations-or-yoursations/  https://www.nonviolentcommunication.com/pdf_files/4part_nvc_process.pdf

This weeks episode is the first in a series of episodes that will focus on what Liz describes as POWER skills for Assistants. In this episode she outlines what are your POWER skills and why are they essential to being perceived as an indispensable assistant. Join her in the coming weeks as she brings out episodes focused on the POWER skills that you need to develop in order to differentiate yourself and be seen as relevant, effective and irreplaceable. Connect with Liz on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

My philosophy is 'progress over perfection' and remembering to be kind to ourselves. But I'm also all about being self-aware and I came across this way of thinking about our mindset and how we 'show up' and I use it extensively in the face to face corporate training I deliver...so I wanted to share it with you my lovely podcast listener! Tools mentioned in this episode: https://youtu.be/fLqzYDZAqCI https://discoveryinaction.com.au/above-or-below-the-line-where-are-you/

Road rambling including audio of me narrowly avoiding random elderly driver in a Suffolk country lane!

Hot on the heels of Part One, here is Part Two of my interview with Lucy Brazier, CEO of Marcham Publishing, specialist  publishers  of  Executive  Secretary  Magazine  –  a  global  training magazine dedicated to the professional development needs of senior and aspiring administrative professionals  - Lucy works  with  the best trainers  of Executive Assistants  from  around the world to  deliver the most up to  date and current training in the market. Lucy just also happens to be a thought leader and subject matter expert on the EA/Administrative Assistant/Personal Assistant profession. It was a delight to interview her. One of the key discussion items was the upcoming Executive Secretary LIVE Sydney and Wellington events. In Part Two we also talk about the important initiatives that are happening at the World Administrator Summit and the 2020 event which is taking place in Wellington, New Zealand. To book your place at Executive Secretary LIVE Sydney, please go to  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/executive