Traveling Internationally

What do you believe is the most challenging part of traveling internationally and why?

I believe that the cultural differences are the most challenging part of traveling internationally. Business customs and etiquette can differ greatly from country and country.  Business people must be aware of these differences and educate themselves on what is or isn't proper in the country they're visiting.  This may be hard to do since the business person will have to now think through something that is normally routine for them.  For example, a firm handshake in the U.S. is expected in a business setting.  However, in some countries such as Turkey, a grip which is too firm is considered rude.  In the U.S., a business person would never dream of arriving late to a meeting.  In some cultures though, being late is expected.

Written Communication

This chapter has helped me recognize that I can strengthen my written communication in the following ways.

I think overall my written communication skills are fairly good, but there is always room for improvement.  This chapter has made me recognize the importance of being concise.  I’m definitely one of those people who use too many words that aren’t necessary.  I also never thought about asking permission to forward someone’s e-mail.  I know from past experience that some e-mails I’ve written with the intention of being for one person have been distributed to other people within the company.  Therefore, I should remember to ask permission before forwarding and also keep in mind that I do lose control of the e-mail once I hit “send.”

Customer Service

I believe customer service skills are important for me to have as an administrative professional for the following reasons, and here is how I can demonstrate this importance to customers.

Customer service skills are important because effective customer service is vital to achieving a business's main goal which is to make a profit.  External customers who are not satisfied with the service they receive are likely to take their business elsewhere in the future and share their frustrations and experiences with others.  This results in lower sales and smaller profits for the company.  Consequently, if a customer receives great service, they will continue to support that business and tell others about their positive experience.  It is also important to deliver great customer service skills to internal customers because effective internal customer service is essential for a business to provide good external customer service.  Developing strong relationships with those who depend on you to provide answers or services is essential to creating an environment that puts external customers first.

I can demonstrate this importance to customers by always providing excellent customer service. Some ways I can do this include:

• Be a problem-solver
• Be a good listener
• Demonstrate both good verbal and nonverbal communication skills
• Be empathetic
• Show respect for customers
• Go the extra mile (after receiving permission from a supervisor)
• Take responsibility for mistakes
• Maintain effective relationships
• Offer explanations to customers
• Seek input from customers
• Follow up in a timely manner
• Keep a positive attitude.

Chapter 2 Assignment - Personal and Work Characteristics

This chapter has helped me recognize that I need to strengthen the following personal and work characteristics so that I portray a positive professional image...

Positive attitude - I think everyone can benefit from striving to have a more positive attitude.  I know I tend to let little things affect me in big ways, and this leads me being a "Debbie downer."  I have also struggled with self-image issues which is the first step to a positive attitude.  My self-confidence used to be extremely low, and that's the main reason I put off taking the CPA exam for so long.  I thought there was no way I could pass.  I finally decided to attempt it, and surprised myself by passing all 4 parts on the first try.  This has done wonders for my self-confidence, and I expect this translate into an improved attitude when I return to work in a few months. 

Professional look - I have always dressed for comfort and not for style.  This tends to be a problem in the business world because comfort and professional dress do not go hand-in-hand.  My outfit of choice outside of work is typically jeans and a sweatshirt.  When choosing outfits for work, I try to get by with what the employer's minimally acceptable standard is for dress.  This results in me sometimes looking sloppy and being underdressed compared to colleagues.  I need to learn to embrace professional dress as something that can help others have a favorable impression of me.

Productive use of work time - I'm a talker and feel like socializing is a great way to bond with colleagues.  However, I tend to do too much of this when I'm "on the clock."  What starts out as a 5 minute chat at the coffee pot can easily turn into an hour long conversation.  I need to be more cognizant of the productive use of my time while at work, and save the socializing for either lunch or after work hours. 

Chapter 1 Assignment - Introduction

I'm currently at stay-at-home mom, but am planning on returning to full-time work within the next year.  My background is in accounting, and I'm taking classes at NVCC this semester in order to meet the 150 credit hour requirement to be a licensed CPA in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Since a lot of small businesses have the same employee perform both accounting and administration, I decided to enroll in this course to broaden my knowledge of office management.  Even if I don't ever have the title of administrator, what I learn in this class will still be beneficial because even non-admin employees are required to perform some administrative tasks.  I look forward to broadening my skill set and learning as much as I can about office administration!