Team Performance Versus Individual Performance

The importance of team spirit and morale is recognised as a key factor in achieving goals. This recognition can be seen in the rise in popularity of such bonding exercises as paintball sessions and group learning on external workshops. But after these activities have transformed a loose-knit group of individuals into a veritable A-Team, the team's performance still needs to be managed. One way to study team performance management in action is to watch televised football.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1932-team-performance-versus-individual-performance.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Add, Remove And Change Time Zones In Outlook Calendar

After the 1789 revolution in France, the revolutionaries not only dispensed with the ruling classes - they also created a new government, a new unit of measurement and (not so well known) a new metric calendar.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1928-add-remove-change-time-zones-in-outlook.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Widows And Orphans - And How To Control Them In Word

I recently watched a re-run of the 1970s American sitcom, The Odd Couple, in which Oscar, the untidy sports writer, was typing his newspaper column on an old manual typewriter (while in bed). This highlighted one of the great advantages that the word processor has over its manual predecessor: flowing text.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1907-widows-and-orphans-and-how-control-them-in-word.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Three Ways To Improve Your Written Communication

Communication skills all too often focus on the spoken word, whereas many people could stand to improve their written communication skills in the office, too. A badly written email, letter or memo reflects badly on an individual, almost as much as poor verbal communication. Don't fall into the common traps - here are three ways you can easily improve your professional written communication.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1911-three-ways-improve-your-written-communication.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Three Steps To Better Upward Management

Whether we get on well with our boss or not is a big factor in whether we are generally happy in our job and at work. If you can't stand the person you're working for or find them difficult, then working isn't going to be very pleasant in the day to day grind. On the flip side, if you have a great working relationship with your boss and you're successful at managing upwards, then work is going to be almost a pleasure - and you may even get a friend into the bargain. Here are three tips to help you successfully manage upward and get on better with your superior:

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1909-three-steps-better-upward-management.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How Can Your Emotions Impact Your Work?

For a long time, emotions were perceived as a 'bad thing' in the workplace. It's true that sometimes we have to be emotionally intelligent and keep them in check, but they can also act as a fuel or a positive side of our character - it all depends on how we recognise, use and control them. Here are some tips on how you can improve your emotional intelligence in the workplace:

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1913-how-can-your-emotions-impact-your-work.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Positive And Negative Ways Of Negotiating

Persuasion forms a large part of negotiation, whether we like doing it or not. Many of us feel that persuading someone to do something (usually that they are resisting doing) feels underhand, somehow.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1878-positive-and-negative-ways-negotiating.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

A Quick Guide To Conditional Formatting In Excel 2007/2010

Excel has always allowed you to make cell formatting conditional on cell values or formula, but the formatting has been restricted to the regular formatting features you can apply to cells such as font and cell background colours. In Excel 2007/2010 you'll find powerful new conditional formatting with brand new formatting features. Find out all about this in this brief article.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1872-guide-conditional-formatting-in-excel-2007-and-2010.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Find Out About Desktop Publishing Features In Word

Desktop Publishing comes in many different flavours, and there are lots of applications to choose from, but did you know that Microsoft Word has many desktop publishing features which allow you to arrange content and layouts with images in different ways. This article summaries the key desktop publishing features available in Word and covers how to arrange text in columns, add images, organize text wrapping round the images as well as some very useful Word formatting features.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1883-desktop-publishing-features-in-word.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Change The Data Displayed In A Linked Field In An Access Table

If you link two tables in Access, for example a primary key in one table to a non primary key in another table, the linked field in the second table only shows primary field values from the first table. You can change what is displayed in the second table by using a lookup based on the primary key to show more meaningful data from the first table. Read this brief article to discover how to do this.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1869-how-change-data-displayed-in-linked-field-in-access-table.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Add Extra Data Ranges To An Excel Chart

Once you've become familiar with creating charts in Excel, you may need to be able to change or add to the data source. This is straightforward if the data is simply an additional part of the original data, but what if the data is apart from the original? This article describes working with data sources for charts and describes how to add data to an existing chart even if the data is away from the original table.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1875-how-add-extra-data-ranges-excel-chart.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

What Are Sparklines In Excel 2010?

There's a brand new graphical feature in Excel 2010 with a slightly odd title called Sparklines. In essence a Sparkline is a miniature chart in a single cell. These can be very useful in showing data patterns visually. Find out all about Sparklines and how to use them in this short easy to follow article.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1873-what-are-sparklines-in-excel-2010.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

The Importance Of Planning Before Negotiations

At the firm of Haddaway & Daddle Ltd, young Billy is about to enter into his first ever round of head-to-head negotiations. He is certainly being thrown in at the deep end, as his opposite number has a reputation as a highly efficient negotiator. Billy is somewhat nervous at the prospect, but his anxieties are eased a little when he learns that the skilled negotiator has been called away on urgent business and he will be facing a junior member of the management team instead.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1902-the-importance-planning-before-negotiations.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Take The Project Management Terminology Test

Like many occupations, project management has its own lexicon of terminology and jargon. Words and phrases that apply specifically to the management of a project might sound like Double Dutch to the layman, but to the project manager they arte tools of the trade. To familiarise yourself with some of these terms, try this fun quiz on the language of the project manager.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1900-insert-excel-chart-into-your-powerpoint-presentation.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Make Managing Upwards Easier By Managing Downwards Effectively

In an early episode of The Simpsons, Homer obtains a $1000 hair restorative by fiddling his employers' health insurance. The treatment is a success and overnight the formula does its stuff and he wakes with a full head of flowing locks. His new look gives off an aura of dynamism and he catches the eye of his boss, Mr Burns, who promotes him, much to the chagrin of Burns' jealous underling, Smithers.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1914-make-managing-upwards-easier-by-managing-downwards-effectively.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Five Examples Of When Not To Delegate

On the whole, delegation is a good thing in business, and most can't run without it. We've all delegated some of our work at some point, and had it delegated to us too - but there are times when you shouldn't do it. Here are five classic occasions when delegation is a no-no, or it is used in a way that is detrimental to your working life as a whole.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1915-five-examples-when-not-delegate.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Good Communications: The Life Blood Of A Project

While I was jotting down some ideas for this article, a curious thought occurred to me: when I was young, just about the only people whose occupations familiarised them with the QWERTY keyboard were typists, secretaries and journalists. These days, children are introduced to the keyboard at an early age and everyone has a typing speed.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1901-good-communications-life-blood-project.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Create An Index Report In Access

Have you ever wanted to create an Access index report for a list of names? This article describes how to create a report from a data table containing fields including Firstname and Surname, with the report sorted by surname and indexed under the appropriate letter of the alphabet. The steps to do this are firstly to create a query which lists all the table fields and the first letter of each surname. Then secondly to create a report based on the query, and then thirdly to organise the report sorting and grouping, with the data grouped under the appropriate letter of the alphabet.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1618-how-create-index-report-in-access.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How MS Publisher Can Help You Reach More Customers Than Ever

The growth of the internet has transformed how companies attract business. An appealing, informative and accessible website - not so long ago a fun if largely irrelevant addition to conventional marketing and retail - has become an absolute necessity. Banners on pages have become a standard (and highly profitable) form of advertising. The role of the web in reaching out to customers has blossomed into something successful and vital.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1861-how-ms-publisher-can-help-you-reach-more-customers-than-ever.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Discover The Difference Between Line And XY Scatter Charts In Excel

Once you've used Excel to work with data you may then want to create different types of charts. Once you've used column, bar and pie charts you may then explore line and XY scatter charts. This article describes how these two types differ and summarises the key features of each.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1874-discover-difference-between-line-and-xy-scatter-charts-in-excel.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Negotiating Your Way To Success

Do you haggle very often? The modern organised, systematised retail environment doesn't often lend itself to haggling (which is how retailers like it, not having to risk being argued down from the price they were asking), but circumstances still arise where there's scope for a little negotiation. Looking for a second-hand car, for example: it's often worth pressing the dealer to find just how little he or she would accept. Or if you're buying a number of items from an electronics store - perhaps a new computer, monitor, printer, keyboard, mouse, all together - there's no harm in trying to get a deal from the manager for purchasing the whole bundle from his or her shop.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1859-negotiating-your-way-success.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Use The Navigation Pane In Word 2010

Once you've started to use Word 2010 you'll have found many new features. Amongst these is the very useful Navigation Pane, which lets you navigate through long documents very easily. Discover how to use this pane in this short east to follow article.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1884-how-use-navigation-pane-in-word-2010.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Use Referential Integrity In Microsoft Access

What does referential integrity mean in Microsoft Access? This article describes the two key rules of referential integrity and summarises how this feature is applied to table relationships in an Access database.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1617-use-referential-integrity-in-microsoft-access.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Decide The Perfect Way Forward For Your Business

For many of us, about the only time we're not planning, hoping for or looking forward to our next holiday is when we're on the current one. The rest of the time, thoughts easily drift to that next trip away to the sun or the snow, to the beach or the city or the hills or the jungle. But whatever kind of holiday we like to go on, the choices are always immense: different countries, different resorts or cities, different hotels or houses, different ways of getting there. The decisions are invariably numerous (and, indeed, picking out a favourite can sometimes be part of the fun).

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1858-how-decide-perfect-way-forward-your-business.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Motivating Skills: Make Going To The Office As Pleasant As A Walk In The Park

Building the morale of your team will help keep everyone inspired and make positive changes to the office environment. When employees have both their intellectual and emotional needs fulfilled, they are naturally inclined to use their skills to the fullest, enjoy being challenged and feel comfortable in the knowledge that their efforts will be recognised and appreciated. This will provide you with loyal employees that you can trust with extra responsibilities.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1887-make-going-office-as-pleasant-as-walk-in-park.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Tell If Your Team Need Training

Unless someone is brave enough to disclose that they need some training, how can you recognise that an individual or your team as a whole probably need to be trained up in some areas? What are the classic signs and symptoms of a team that need training? Here are three ways that may indicate that your training schedule is well overdue:

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1863-how-tell-if-your-team-need-training.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Choosing The Scale Of Your Training

Many people consider "training" to involve groups of bored delegates being forced to take a course that is either mandatory or that they have been volunteered for - either way, they don't seem to enjoy being there because they haven't really been involved in the training decisions at management level. Here are some tips with how to look at training needs on different scales - for the individual, for the group, or for the whole company.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1894-choosing-scale-your-training.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Make Sure You're Not Left In The Starting Blocks In The Social Networking Race

During the first month of 2011 social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, collectively registered 2.4 billion UK internet visits and accounted for 12.4% of all UK internet traffic according to a recent report. This is a dramatic change from previous behaviour when entertainment sites were the most popular internet destinations in the UK, followed by social networks and search engines. In January 2011, the average session time spent on a social network was 22 minutes. The growth has been attributed to Facebook, which now has 30 million registered users in the UK. Facebook accounted for 56% of the UK's social networking traffic during January, while YouTube and Twitter came in second and third place respectively.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1580-make-sure-youre-not-left-in-starting-blocks-in-social-networking-race.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Find Out How Everything Has Its Place In PowerPoint

We have probably all been in a situation when we just can't remember the word we need to use; it's that instance of knowing something that cannot immediately be recalled while you try desperately to get the word out. Despite failure in finding the word, people have the feeling that it is figuratively "on the tip of the tongue (TOT)". TOT is an experience with memory recollection when you have difficulty retrieving a well-known word or familiar name. Most people, who have moments of TOT, feel that the blocked word is just on the verge of being recovered. A TOT - or placeholder (also known as a tongue-tipper) is a word used when you just can't remember the exact word for something: a "thingie" for example, or a "thingamabob".

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1586-find-out-how-everything-has-its-place-in-powerpoint.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How Watching The Cloud Will Forecast The Future

As many businesses decide to shift their computing into the ether, cloud computing is the latest buzz phrase in information technology. Many companies large and small see this as the way to free them from the burden of running their own major IT infrastructure. Cloud computing allows them to move the running of technology functions, ranging from email to accounting and customer relationship management software, to a host of providers accessible over the internet.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1578-how-watching-cloud-will-forecast-future.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Don't Be Left Hanging On That Smartphone: Windows Phone 7 Has Arrived

New versions of Windows Phone 7 will include hardware acceleration for a mobile build of web browser Internet Explorer 9, access to documents stored on Microsoft's cloud-based Skydrive, and it will be compatible with the company's popular Xbox Kinect video games accessory. Twitter will also be integrated with WP7's 'People Hub', and the software's multitasking will be improved. So, with the popularity in Windows Phone 7 about to soar, it's an ideal time to be sure that you keep your smartphone in synch with the latest software and find out about Office Mobile.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1499-dont-be-left-hanging-on-that-smartphone-windows-phone-7-has-arrived.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

An Overview Of Word 2007 Function Key Shortcuts

Love it or hate it, the Ribbon is here to stay across the Microsoft Office 2007 applications. But as many of us still prefer to use shortcut keys to avoid hunting around the for commonly used functions, it's handy to know what those F keys do. The F keys, or function keys, are located at the top of the keyboard. There are 12 function keys, which can be used on their own or in combination with other keys, and can give you access to some of the most common functions normally accessed using the Word 2007 Ribbon. For example, the F1 key accesses Word 2007 Help and F12 is a shortcut to the Save As command. For those of us who rely on speed, function shortcut keys can help us access those common commands we need to access quickly without using our mouse.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1583-an-overview-word-2007-function-key-shortcuts.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

The Top Three Destructive Forces In Meetings

Destruction? In a meeting? You may come out of the room knowing that you just had a meeting, but if you're left with the feeling that it was just a meeting to fuel other meetings, or that you just spent an hour of your life without getting much done, then you've probably had one of these three destructive forces present in the meeting with you. If you can recognise and spot them, you can have much better meetings in future - ones that people look forward to instead of dread.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1892-the-top-three-destructive-forces-in-meetings.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Emotional And Physical Signs Of Stress

Many articles, documents and guides that exist about managing stress at work often focus on the problem once it's been identified.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1890-emotional-and-physical-signs-stress.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Why The Best Training Doesn't End When You Leave The Class

Looking your best is never a bad thing; if it were, then the clothes shops, makeup shops, hairdressers and barbers and beauticians of this world would be in a spot of trouble. How you look can play a major role in how the world perceives you, so efforts are made in every bedroom and bathroom and changing room in the land - at least once in a while - to polish up that appearance.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1895-why-best-training-doesnt-end-when-you-leave-class.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Spend Money On Training To Save Overall

It seems illogical, but training is definitely an area of business where you spend more to earn more back. But how? Here are three ways that prioritising training (and increasing whatever budget you have allocated to it, which usually isn't enough) can actually save you money in the long run.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1864-spend-money-on-training-save-overall.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Working With The New Office 2007/2010 File Formats

Office 2007 and Office 2010 have new file formats for all the Office suite applications. This article summarises the main different formats, describes how these can be opened in earlier Office versions and covers how to change the default format in the new Office applications if required.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1557-working-with-new-office-2007-2010-file-formats.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Why PEST Is Anything But A Nuisance

The biggest and most successful companies may often seem to be cruising along untroubled in profitable and prosperous waters, with few of the concerns that afflict the normal business. Yet illusions can be deceptive; they face obstacles just as any organisation does, they'll often collide with a market issue that threatens that prosperity, but a central tenet of their success is the ability to deal effectively with any problems that come along.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1867-why-pest-is-anything-but-nuisance.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How Managing Yourself Can Be The Key To Productivity

Let's be honest for a moment - we're all friends here, aren't we? - let's be honest, you'd rather be lying on a beach right now. And I'm happy enough to assume that you're not lying on a beach, because if you're lying on a beach reading an article about professional skills, there's probably something missing from your life that you'd better go out and find right away. But seeing as you're not lying on a beach, relaxing and doing nothing at all that might be considered 'work', that probably seems like an awfully tempting alternative to whatever you have to do instead - because you'll most likely have things that need to be done either right now or in the near future.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1862-how-managing-yourself-can-be-key-productivity.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Make Profits Not Losses With Your Financial Statements

As the trading year progresses you may begin to lose track of the assets and liabilities held in your business, but it's essential to know where these lie as they are an accurate reflection of what you own and owe.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1537-make-profits-not-losses-with-your-financial-statements.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

A Brief Glimpse At Excel's

If you're interested in using Excel to help make business decisions then you may find the built in "What If" analyses tools offer you some interesting possibilities. There are either two or three tools available by default depending on which Excel version you are using and you can add more via Excel's Add Ins feature. This article summarises how to use two of the basic tools; Scenario Manager and Goal Seek and one of the additional tools, Solver.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1412-a-brief-glimpse-at-excels-what-if-analyses-tools.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Where Are The Form Controls In Different Versions Of Excel

Form controls in Excel worksheets let users add items such as check boxes, combo boxes and buttons to a worksheet and data can then be added to one or more worksheet cells by using these control rather than entering data directly.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1413-where-are-form-controls-in-different-versions-excel.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Managing Cashflow: How To Ensure Your Money Is Circulating Effectively

The way that cash flows in and out of a business is comparable to breathing. In effect, cash is the oxygen which fuels a business and keeps it running. It is the prime indicator of business health. Although a business can survive for a while without any profits or sales, the lack of cash injection will slowly bring its life to an end. If we were paid cash for goods or services the moment they were delivered there would be no need to monitor cashflow but in a world of buy now, pay later there has never been a more important time to learn the art of business finance.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1380-managing-cashflow--how-ensure-your-money-is-circulating-effectively.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Three Signs Of A Great Training Company

In some fields of business, anyone can set themselves up and start attracting business, sometimes without any qualifications. Unfortunately, the world of business training is one of these where you need to look at the quality of the training company very carefully. What makes a good training company? Besides any kind of industry recognised accreditations or testimonials, you can usually tell from what's offered and included in the price, and also the different types of course content, to tell you whether you are looking at a quality trainer. Here are three good elements as a benchmark...

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1865-three-signs-great-training-company.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Four Steps To Success When Taking Minutes

Many people don't place enough attention on minute taking, and as a result, they end up inconsistent, sloppy or worse - impossible to glean information from. If you follow these four tips, you'll be well on your way to taking better minutes every time.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1866-four-steps-success-taking-minutes.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Find Out What's Happening Backstage With Microsoft Office 2010

The new Backstage view in Office 2010 has been designed to allow you to easily find, protect, update, and share the files you create - all in one window. The new three-column layout displays information without cluttering up your screen or hiding the tools you are trying to find. As the number of commands available throughout the Office suite grew, menus, toolbars and task panes had became heavily populated, and it looked like the set was about to collapse. The Backstage Office is the perfect solution.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1579-find-out-whats-happening-backstage-with-microsoft-office-2010.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Save And View Multiple Baselines In Microsoft Project

Once you're familiar with Microsoft Project and used it to create project schedules you may well have created a project baseline, and then tracked tasks progress against this baseline. However your project plan might change once you've started tracking, so you decide to save the baseline again. Project lets you overwrite the original baseline, so you lose the original baseline data. But did you know that you can save and keep multiple baselines, and then display one or more on your Tracking Gantt view. This article describes how to do this using a clear easy to follow example.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1558-how-save-and-view-multiple-baselines-in-microsoft-project.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Find Out About The Power Behind Microsoft Project

Microsoft Project is a very powerful application because it gives the user both the big picture point of view and analysis of lots of fine detail analysis at the same time. Project is a very successful product because it does manage to meet the needs of a wide variety of users in this way. This article looks at the key Project features and describes how some are used.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1623-find-out-about-power-behind-microsoft-project.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Create A Custom View In Project

Learn how to create a custom view in Microsoft Project by combining a Gantt chart with any table view, and then edit the formatting of each to suit particular needs. This can include Gantt chart formatting for special printing requirements and adding extra fields to tables to create more detailed summary needs.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1624-how-create-custom-view-in-project.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Using Animation Schemes And Custom Animations In PowerPoint 2003

If you've used animations in PowerPoint 2003 you'll have found there are two types available, Animation schemes and Custom Animations. This article summaries the key features and benefits of each.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1805-using-animation-schemes-and-custom-animations-in-powerpoint-2003.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Discover The Different Kinds Of Task Relationships In Microsoft Project

Have you created or used a project plan in Microsoft Project? Then you'll know that the key way tasks interact is through task relationships. Find out in this article about the four different kinds of task relationships and how to create them.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1807-discover-different-kinds-task-relationships-in-microsoft-project.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Explore The Rich New Chart Features In Office 2007/2010

Whether you've used earlier Office versions or you're new to Office 2007/2010 you may have worked with charts in your applications. The Office 2007/2010 applications suites now share a common and much more powerful charting capability. This article describes how to choose a new chart in Office 2007/2010 and summarises the editing features.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1811-explore-rich-new-chart-features-in-office-2007/2010.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

An Introduction To The Excel VBA Editor Screen

Once you start out working with Excel VBA you'll need to use the VBA editor screen. This article describes how to open the editor screen then summarises what the key parts are for, and describes how to create a simple example of VBA code. The VBA editor screen is very similar in Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel, but this article will focus on Excel.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1626-an-introduction-excel-vba-editor-screen.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Promoting Your Company To Success With Microsoft Publisher

Your business is great. Your business provides a high quality service at a highly competitive price. Anyone could see that your business should be the first place they look for the service you provide. So what's stopping your business from being a whole lot more successful than it currently is? Perhaps a lot of the customers who should be handing over their money to your business are going elsewhere, perhaps they don't know about you, perhaps they don't know what you provide or why they should favour your business above any other. Perhaps, in a crowded market, you need to stand up taller and shout a bit louder.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1613-promoting-your-company-success-with-microsoft-publisher.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Use Calculation Fields In Microsoft Access

Once you've created table and queries in Microsoft Access you might want to use calculation fields in your data. A calculation field is a field derived from data in one or more existing table fields. However a calculation field cannot be added to a table, but it can be added to a query. You can then base any forms or reports on the query rather than the table. This article summarises how to create a calculation field in a query by describing two examples; a bonus calculation and an age calculation.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1553-how-use-calculation-fields-in-microsoft-access.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

The Rehabilitation Of The Ribbon In Microsoft Office 2010

It is a commonly held truth that people do not like change and, whilst the pace of developments in the corporate world means that business professionals are more able to deal with it than the wider public, there is nothing more potentially alarming than technological change.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1521-the-rehabilitation-ribbon-in-microsoft-office-2010.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

The Magic Of Adding Fields To Microsoft Project Tables

As you use Microsoft Project to work with project plans, you'll no doubt have discovered there are many tables you can choose to view alongside the Gantt chart. For example you can select a Costs table, or a Tracking table or a Work table to show different data. But did you know that you can extra fields to a particular table to minimize the need to keep switching tables. This article describes how to add fields to tables with easy to understand examples.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1559-the-magic-adding-fields-microsoft-project-tables.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Discover The Key Steps To Build A Project Plan In Microsoft Project

Once you've started to use Microsoft Project you'll have realized that the application has a variety of screens which help you plan a project very methodically in clear specific steps. You first define the project tasks, link tasks to create the project schedule, add resources and then monitored and correct the plan as appropriate. Printed reports on particular topics can also be created for different interest groups. Once complete the project can be evaluated for overall effectiveness and recommendations can be drawn up for future similar projects. So what are the key steps used in creating and running a project plan involving these activities? This article describes the four key steps and associated Project screens to accomplish this.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1809-discover-key-steps-build-project-plan-in-microsoft-project.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Some Office Features Specific To Certain Programs

One of the difficulties in writing about Microsoft Office is that if I want to highlight a particular feature of one application, the chances are that same feature will be available on other applications. For example, I could be writing about using the Format Painter tool in Word, but that same tool is available across the Office range and so it is not, strictly speaking, a Word tool, but rather an Office one. There are, however, some stand-alone features that are, if not entirely unique to an application, at least most commonly used by one

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1644-some-office-features-specific-certain-programs.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

One To Many Relationships In Access

Take That were recently voted Best British Group at the Brit Awards, two decades after they released their debut single. This prize was hailed as a complete turnaround by those fans who had been devastated back in 1995 when the band split. After the TV news cameras' film of sobbing girls had faded from our TV screens, the band members took stock of their situations and the most prominent post-Take That solo career belonged to Robbie Williams. But why am I telling you this?

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1591-one-many-relationships-access.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Save Time By Linking Tasks In Microsoft Project

In this article about Microsoft Project I will use the imaginary scenario of a pub being decorated, to show how linking tasks can save time and effort.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1565-save-time-link-tasks-in-microsoft-project.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Find The Ideal Location For Capital Investment

Managing your working capital is very important as it keeps your firm running on a day-to-day business, but it's equally important to consider where your company could benefit from long-term investment.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1536-find-ideal-location-capital-investment.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Seeing The Bigger Picture: Enterprise Project Management With MS Project

Project management in the twenty first century is one of the cornerstones of corporate life yet it has not always been thus. As recently as a couple of decades ago the slower pace of dramatic technical change meant that individual projects would be considered on their own terms with no interrelation to other demands that the business may encounter. In other words, companies took one project at a time and were able to do so because of the comparative lack of resources then open to them and the absence of the mass communication devices that we take for granted these days.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1531-seeing-bigger-picture-enterprise-project-management-with-ms-project.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Five Finance Areas Every Manager Should Know About

If you're a non-financial manager, you'll probably still be faced with looking after some element of finance in your role. It's unavoidable. Profit and loss, after all, is the heartbeat of the business and can mean the difference between success and failure, even so if that finance is mismanaged through lack of knowledge. Here are five different financial areas that you should learn about as a manager:

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1533-five-finance-areas-every-manager-should-know-about.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

A Project Shared Is A Project Improved

Project management isn't just about looking after the project itself. It's also about managing your team, making sure that everyone knows what they need to do and has confidence both in their ability to make their own contribution, and in the ability of the team as a whole to finish the job. Communication is essential, and you have to be sure that whatever decisions you make filter through immediately and clearly to everyone concerned; it's important to have the best tools for this vital job, and Microsoft Project can give you just that.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1530-a-project-shared-is-project-improved.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

PowerPoint Proves It Really Does Take All Types

Even if we are not aware of it, we are all influenced by type fonts throughout our day: from the newspaper we read every morning, to directions at the train station, to information about road works; even the typeface on the signage in our offices has been carefully selected so that it communicates with just the right amount of emotion. And when anyone tries to tinker with our type, it really upsets us. One well known Scandinavian furniture store found this to their astonishment last year when they rebranded their logo. By replacing its old faithful Futura logo typeface with the more modern Verdana, the company found itself embroiled in a "font war". Customers and designers alike complained en mass, and the protest soon appeared in Wikipedia under the banner "Verdanagate".

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1504-powerpoint-proves-it-really-does-take-all-types.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Ensure Your Brand Is Communicating Even In The Background

One of the most recounted stories regarding the success of a good logo involves the famous "swoosh" image that is associated with running shoes and sportswear. The original design apparently cost only $35 and was produced as a favour to a friend. Now, the brand is one of the most recognised in the world. Not bad for a design that was met with the original reaction of: "I don't love it, but I think it will grow on me," by the client.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1503-ensure-brand-communicating-in-background.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Animating Text In Powerpoint For A Stylish Presentation

By the time we reach the age where we attend work-related presentations, we are already well familiar with the set up. After all, we spent all of our school days staring at a teacher, who would point at information on a blackboard.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1480-animating-text-in-powerpoint-stylish-presentation.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Use VBA To Create A Data Entry Box In Excel

Have you ever wondered how to create a data entry box to enter data into a particular cell in Excel? Sometimes you want to do this to guide a user so the data always ends up in the correct cell or perhaps you want to start working in VBA Excel with a good example. This article describes how to create an input box in Excel using VBA and the exercise is a good illustration of VBA usage for the newcomer.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1816-use-vba-create-data-entry-box-excel.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Are You Sure You Know What Those Symbols Mean?

We now have greater control over how our text looks on page, so it's just as important that we also know and understand how to use the correct punctuation marks and symbols.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1838-do-you-know-what-those-symbols-mean.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Make Flash Content Like An Expert (Even If You're Not)

Have you ever found yourself trying to follow a television chef, doing as he does, adhering to his instructions, mixing and chopping and whisking and frying and grating and baking in harmony with your onscreen guide? And have you ever watched as he pulls from the oven with a flourish a finished meal full of art and elegance whilst you set an unidentifiable morass on your table? Well, don't worry. After all, he's able to practice that every day, when most people are out working; realistically, his dish is bound to come out looking that bit more perfect than yours.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1855-how-make-flash-content-like-expert-even-if-youre-not.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Find Out About SmartArt In Microsoft Office 2007/2010

One of the many new visual features available in Office 20072010 is SmartArt. This is a progression from the Diagram feature found in previous Office versions and offers a vastly improved range of graphical diagrams to choose from, with a wealth of formatting features. The results are truly stunning. This article summarises the key aspects of SmartArt.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1812-find-out-about-smartart-in-microsoft-office-2007-and-2010.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

The Easy Way To Get Started With Access

The name Microsoft Access is as well-known as that of any business software is likely to be, but we shouldn't confuse recognition of the Access brand with experience in using it; and just as there's no shortage of people who use Access all the time, so there are also a great many who could benefit from using it, but don't. And if you fit within the latter category, that's perfectly understandable - like countless others, you might not have had the time to learn, you might be used to doing your work a different way, you might not be sure what it can do for you or why, or any number of other reasons. That's fine, really it is, but perhaps it might be worth having a little look to see just how much Access can help you, how effective it can be and how much time it can save. Just a quick look - don't worry, Access won't bite.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1526-the-easy-way-get-started-with-access.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

It Is Important To Take Care Over Primary Key Assignment

I was watching the consumer programme Watchdog the other night and the show featured a complaint about a competition run by a paint manufacturer. The competition details stated that underneath a sticker on the tub was a unique number. The contestants had to peel off the sticker and check their number on the paint firm's website to see if they had won. This appeared very straightforward but one contestant bought two tubs of the product and she discovered that her 'unique' ID numbers were identical.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1628-take-care-over-primary-key-assignment.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

A Helping Hand For Your Business, With VBA And Microsoft Office

There are many things in life that can run more smoothly if they're tailored to our own needs. Perhaps you're having a new kitchen installed in your home, planning it just the way you want it, regardless of what anyone else might look for. Maybe it's a new car, and you can fit it out with an electric sunroof or leather seats (or not) as you choose, depending on what you yourself will find most useful. Or just a suit, that needs taking in here and letting out a little here so that it's right for you and your own unique shape.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1472-a-helping-hand-your-business-with-vba-and-microsoft-office.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Create Combo Lookups In Microsoft Access

As you increase your skills in using Microsoft Access you may need to create Combos on forms. Combo controls are a popular way to allow data entry because the user can either enter their own data or make a selection from the pop down - hence the name Combo. Did you know that you can create the pop down list in different ways? This article describes how to do this effectively using different method, depending on whether the lookup data changes or not.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1552-how-create-combo-lookups-in-microsoft-access.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

The Best Laid Plans For Your Financial Success

The thought of having to compile a business plan can be offputting for even the most organised of people, but failing to plan certainly can mean planning to fail. Whether you run a large corporation or a small business, you owe it to your financial success to make plans which will help you to continue to flourish.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1493-the-best-laid-plans-your-financial-success.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Ensure You're An Expert At Speaking The Lingo

The English language, oddly, is peppered with quaint phrases that pay homage to other languages. "It's all Greek to me", or "pardon my French" are just two examples of such nuances. Even the oddity: "he's talking double Dutch" has a quirky derivation. Double Dutch is based on a literal translation of Dutch idioms into the English language and the similarity in sound of certain words and expressions. The phrase was coined by Johan van der Meulen, an English teacher in Rotterdam, when he began to use a kind of wordplay inspired by the clumsy English used by his pupils. He called the macaronic combination of Dutch and English words and sentence structures "Double Dutch".

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1498-how-ensure-youre-expert-at-speaking-lingo.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Save Time In Project By Entering Recurring Tasks

Some of the previous articles I have written on Microsoft Project have featured imaginary projects to demonstrate particular features of the application. These have ranged from the refurbishment of a pub to the planning of a Christmas dinner. While these were useful vehicles for demonstrating the processes I was highlighting, the projects themselves were a bit on the small side, and only a tiny part of Project's full capabilities. If you were to schedule a much larger project, such as building a house, then the level of planning would become that much greater. But, such is the capacity of Microsoft Project, undertakings on this scale can be successfully scheduled.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1629-save-time-in-project-by-entering-recurring-tasks.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How MS Project Can Keep Your Project On Track, Whatever Problems May Come Along

Melworth Zoo needs to expand. It's a fine zoo, known for the high quality of the conditions that the animals are kept in, but in a world that offers ever more ways for people to entertain themselves and their families, the competition is strict - merely being humane and dedicated to conservation is no longer enough. There needs to be scope for more exotic animals, particularly those that catch children's attention and make them pester their parents for a visit. The zoo's management and trustees would, of course, never dream of lessening their dedication to the decent treatment of their residents by fitting more creatures into the existing space; so, in order to include more exciting exhibits, there's no choice but to spread out into neighbouring land.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1470-how-ms-project-can-keep-your-project-on-track-whatever-problems-may-come-along.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Recover Unsaved Files In Office 2010

Have you ever closed a document, spreadsheet or presentation and NOT saved it? We've all been there at one time or another, so with this in mind Office 2010 offers two new very interesting recovery features. Firstly you can set the application to keep autosaved versions as you work, so even if you don't save, you can recover different autosaved versions. Secondly if you create a new file, work on it, then close it without saving, you can recover a version of the unsaved file provided at least one autosave has occurred. This article recaps on existing autorecover options and then summarises the two new features in Office 2010. These new features are available in Word 2010, Excel 2010 and PowerPoint 2010.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1461-how-recover-unsaved-files-in-office-2010.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Why Supporting Employees With Stress Or Depression Is Vital For Your Business

The staff you manage are there to work. They have a job to do, you have a job to do, and there's an aim between you to complete tasks that the organisation you're all employed by needs done. But we're none of us machines, with machine minds and machine hearts. We exist separately to our work, and it's important that all workplaces, all employers recognise the role that a job plays in an individual's life, and that their life plays in how they do their job.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1611-why-supporting-employees-with-stress-or-depression-is-vital-your-business.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Find Out About The New Office 2010 Protected View

Office 2010 has a brand new security feature called Protected View. This feature is available in Word 2010, Excel 2010 and PowerPoint 2010. This article summarises how this feature works and describes how it can be used, with examples of situations where Protected View is helpful. You can also find out how to turn off this view if you wish, but it might be a good idea to allow the feature to run for some time first before deciding to turn the feature off too early.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1460-find-out-about-new-office-2010-protected-view.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Learn About Action Queries In Access

When you start using Microsoft Access you usually create tables first and then queries which display sorted or filtered data based on these tables. These queries are Select queries, because they select data and display the results in the way you want. Action queries go one step further and let you change data in the original table. This articles summaries the different kinds of action queries and describes how they can be used.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1457-learn-about-action-queries-in-access.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Make One Combo Show Values Determined By Another Combo In Access

Have you ever wanted to organise two combos on an Access form such that the selection from one combo determines the data for the second combo? For example the first combo gives a choice of country and the second combo then shows a list of cities in that country. This article describes the concepts by using a table, a form, two queries and a macro. A good way to gain a fuller understanding might be to attend one of the many available training courses.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1456-make-one-combo-show-values-determined-by-another-in-access.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Mentor: Could You Be One? Do You Need One?

When someone takes the step up to management there are added responsibilities that come with the post. While they adapt to their new role, colleagues will see them in a new light as well. A common misconception is that anyone who is elevated to managerial status must know all there is to know about the post. Of course this is not the case, as the new manager has as much to learn as anyone else taking on a new role.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1423-mentor-be-one-or-need-one.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Enhancing Your Organisation's In-House Training With Microsoft Office

Calstow Health Authority have long been great believers in the importance of regular training for their staff. Theirs is an industry that's forever changing, and ensuring that everyone is up-to-date with the latest understanding, procedures and policies doesn't just benefit the organisation - it can also save lives. However, both the Authority and the patients need the training to be effective, and effective training will have to be engaging, understandable, and make the best use of the time available. George is responsible for training provision, and he's well aware of just how important it is that it makes the most positive and long-lasting impact. With Microsoft Office, he can be confident of just that result.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1527-enhancing-your-organisations-inhouse-training-with-microsoft-office.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Set The Right Start Date In Project

As children we learn about emotions from experience. A funny puppet on the television will make us happy, while an ice-lolly that has melted and fallen off its stick will make us unhappy. As well as these basic emotions, some children encounter early feelings of frustration while trying to get started on a board game that has a 'throw a six to start' rule, and the six will not come. For throw after throw the unfortunate stay-at-home must wrestle with this new emotion while friends and siblings cruise around the board on their brightly coloured discs. Basically, for this child, the game has started but nothing is happening

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1490-set-right-start-date-in-project.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Are We Born To Be Management Leaders Or Do We Learn These Skills Through Training?

This is the question which has been on the lips of researchers who have toiled with the answer for many decades. The debate will no doubt continue to be thrashed around but the answer is right in front of us.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1477-born-be-management-leaders-or-learned-skills-training.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Maximising The Benefit Your Staff Gain From Training

If your company provides in-house training for your staff, how do they look at it? Perhaps it's not a question that's ever crossed your mind; after all, the raison d'être of a training course is surely to train people, and with that done, what else do you really need to worry about? Get the training done, and move along.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1853-maximising-benefit-your-staff-gain-from-training.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Understanding Equity On A Business Balance Sheet

If you were a shareholder in a company, perhaps the first thing you would be interested in on a balance sheet would be the equity. Often near the totals at the end of the balance sheet, this is essentially what the company is 'worth' to its owners. For the purposes of the explanations here, the examples are for small businesses - i.e. ones that are not floating on the stock market or 'going public'. Reading the balance sheets of these enterprises can be much more complicated!

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1451-understanding-equity-on-business-balance-sheet.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Understanding Liabilities On A Business Balance Sheet

Liabilities are often confused with other meanings of the word, and the general feeling is that liabilities are 'bad things', when in fact they are part and parcel of every business. Most can't run without them! A liability is basically a promise made by the company to deliver or mean something of value in the future.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1450-understanding-liabilities-on-business-balance-sheet.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Understanding Assets On A Business Balance Sheet

When presented with a balance sheet for the first time, it seems to be a confusing list of numbers, both positive and negative, that to an accountant would spell out the company's financial health. Of course, if you're not working in the financial sector or untrained in reading basic financial accounts, it's hard to understand certain elements. Assets are one of these elements that most confuses people, so here is a brief introduction to them, and what they mean.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1447-understanding-assets-on-business-balance-sheet.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To Resolve Access Data That Gives You Déjà Vu

Access databases need solid, accurate foundations to work properly and a small mistake could lead to major problems further down the line if they're not sorted out quickly.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1446-how-resolve-access-data-that-gives-you-déjà-vu.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Up The Professionalism Of Access Files Thanks To Digital Signatures

Professional organisations need to send out documents that reflect the image of their company and getting your Access databases digitally signed can help you to foster the right image.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1445-up-professionalism-access-files-thanks-digital-signatures.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

How To View Project Files Without Using Project's Latest Version

Computers may be seen as the saving grace of offices throughout the world, but they are only as good as the software they feature, and this is why there are different ways of reading/seeing Microsoft Project documents.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1444-how-view-project-files-without-using-projects-latest-version.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

When Is A Task Not Quite Task? Find Out Via Project

The point of any project is to get a job done well so all interested parties are satisfied with the outcome.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1443-when-is-task-not-quite-task-find-out-via-project.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Financial Basics For Non-accountants

Large firms tend to bring in expert accountancy companies to carry out all the tasks associated with the financial organisation and performance of businesses, despite this it will be of great benefit to you to know what their reports include and how data could affect your business.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1439-financial-basics-nonaccountants.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Looking Back At Your Finances To Look Forward

Putting data from your firm into context will give figures more meaning and allow you to spot potential flaws and problems with current operations.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1438-looking-back-at-finances-look-forward.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Establish Your Break Even Point To Set Goals And Targets

Seeing cash roll into your organisation throughout the tax year could see you breathing a sigh of relief as your business appears to flourish and to check that this is exactly the case it's recommended that you establish your break even point.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1437-establish-your-break-even-point-set-goals-and-targets.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Negotiate A Win Win Outcome By Allowing Concessions

Negotiation skills are in common use all around us and on many levels. From the stallholder and customer at a car boot sale haggling over an ashtray priced at 75p, to the massively more serious negotiations between warring factions that will try to bring peace, we all negotiate at some point.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1435-negotiate-win-win-outcome-by-allowing-concessions.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Now You Can Meet And Greet Clients Without Leaving Your Desk

Jane has just joined a multi-national company as a field sales representative. She is excited about taking the first step towards a new career; she has worked in sales before, but as a telemarketer in a large customer contact centre. In the centre she had the backup of a supervisor and was constantly monitored to make sure she was meeting her sales targets - and also to ensure she did not encounter any day to day problems with her work. It was a comfortable environment for Jane, but when the chance came to branch out, she grabbed the opportunity to apply for the field sales job. Now, after a successful round of interviews and analytical tests, Jane is delighted to be starting out as a home-based worker. In this role, however, Jane is very much in charge of her own work flow. She will contact a network of clients, decide on which ones require a person to person visit, and compile her own sales projections.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1424-meet-and-greet-clients-without-leaving-your-desk.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Learn The Secrets About Splitting An Access Database

It may sound like rocket science, but splitting an Access database is actually very straightforward and easy to do, and can lead to many benefits if you have multiple users sharing the same Access database. This article explains what happens when a database is split, summarises the benefits and then describes how to carry out a split.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1411-learn-secrets-about-splitting-access-database.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Using Project 2010 With Excel 2010

Whether you're a seasoned Project user or just starting to use it you may have wondered if you can move data between Project 2010 and Excel 2010. The data tables in Project are similar in appearance to Excel tables and can be formatted to hold different data types just like Excel. This article summarises how data can be moved between the two applications in two different ways; by simple copy and paste actions and by using Project 2010's Export or Import Wizards.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1417-using-project-2010-with-excel-2010.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Delegation: Finding Success By Keeping Control

'The buck stops here'. How many times have we heard that? It's a straightforward principle: I'm in charge, I'm in control, I will deal with it. It's also a leadership principle, a statement of being at the top and below or behind none other, of being the end of the line for any questions, issues or complaints that may arise. The buck may be passed around, but there is a point at which it stops and an individual who will pass it no further.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1854-delegation-finding-success-by-keeping-control.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Discover The Easy Way To Create And Modify A Table In Access 2010

If you're new to using Access 2010 one of the first tasks to carry out will be to create one or more tables to hold your data. When you add, amend or view data the table is in Datasheet View. You can change to Design View make the changes, and then switch back to Datasheet View to add or amend fields, but the easy way is to stay in Datasheet View. You always could create and edit fields in Datasheet in previous Access versions but Access 2010 makes this task particularly easy, allowing you to create a table and then add or modify fields, all within Datasheet View, so you can see instantly the results of your work. There are new field templates which are particularly useful, so it has never been easier to create a table in Access. This article describes how to do this.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1410-create-and-modify-table-in-access-2010.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Discover How To Link An Excel Spreadsheet To An Access Database

Have you ever wanted to use data from Excel in an Access database? Because Excel and Access both store data in tables in a similar way, each application can recognize data stored in the other application. As there are more Excel users than Access users there tends to be much more data stored in Excel compared to Access in some organisations, although much of this data could also be very useful in Access, with its more powerful capabilities to create queries, forms and reports. One way to use Excel data in Access is to link an Excel worksheet to an Access table. This article describes how to do this.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1409-how-link-excel-spreadsheet-access-database.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Perfectly Prioritising Your Project Portfolio

Millions of people suffer from stress brought on by having too much to do in their working lives. It's not a question of being able to do the work, nor of a 'fragile' mindset or anything along those lines; simply, it's a problem caused by the conflicting demands of the tasks that need to be completed and the insufficient time to complete them in. When there's not enough time, every task is pressured, every day brings on a cumulative stress, and a feeling of being overwhelmed can grow all too easily.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1857-perfectly-prioritising-project-portfolio.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Share And Share Alike With Microsoft Access 2010

One of the major developments of Microsoft's 2010 update to the Office suite is undoubtedly the creation of SharePoint server. With the recent explosion in online project management it is vital to have a product which allows for full collaboration between colleagues and clients, allowing the sharing of files and the consensual updating of data. In turn this advance has transformed Microsoft Access from highly effective yet essentially static database software to a fully interactive, constantly changing project management experience.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1404-share-and-share-alike-with-microsoft-access-2010.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Which Office Tip Has The X-Factor?

The new series of Masterchef has just hit our screens and this year's competition has an added twist in the form of a qualifying round. In a move lifted straight from X-Factor, judges John and Greg sample dishes prepared in front of them and then give the contestant a yes or a no. If there is a split decision then that contestant gets the chance to sing, sorry cook, again.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1484-which-office-tip-has-xfactor.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Working Together To Create The Perfect PowerPoint Presentation

Leigh, Sebastian and Brian are rather more than mere salespeople, although at heart it's salespeople they are. The (fictional!) brand they sell goes by the name of Intran Solutions, and its product a variety of public transport schemes that have been established successfully across Europe; the target audience is comprised predominantly of local authorities with a medium- to long-term need to improve their local transport provision. The authorities are always obliged to invite tenders and proposals from a number of different companies, so Intran's success is inextricably linked to the strength of the business in putting its plans across, in persuading and convincing the decision-makers. That's where Leigh, Sebastian and Brian come in, more than mere salespeople, experts at promoting projects that run to many millions in costs and value - and the tool they always turn to is Microsoft PowerPoint.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1401-working-together-create-perfect-powerpoint-presentation.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

A Better Understanding Of Finance, A Brighter Future For Your Business

Can you cook? Yes? No? Certainly, it's a handy skill to have. And I'm not talking about Michelin star chefs - just being able to cook for yourself, from your own choice of ingredients. It has many advantages: you can be sure of always having what you want, rather than relying on someone else; you can tailor everything to your own specific needs; you can be healthier; and you can even save money. It might not seem an essential skill for everyone, but once acquired, it can make a meaningful difference to your life.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1398-better-understanding-finance-brighter-future-your-business.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Make Sense Of Your Accounts To Harness Liquidity

There are many ways to get an accurate picture of the financial status of your company, and if you'd like to see your firm's ability to settle short-term debts quickly, then it's a good idea to take a look at your working capital.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1393-make-sense-your-accounts-harness-liquidity.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Take Your Communications Out Of The Dark Age

Today, almost 80 per cent of organisations already use social networking as an effective tool to communicate and engage with staff. What was once thought of as a distraction in the workplace is now regarded as a work tool. And it appears that its success is due to being more than just a platform for company communication: blogs, discussion groups, comment postings and other tools are all valuable insight gaining tools - up, down and across organisations.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1843-take-your-communications-out-dark-age.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Managing Upwards: It Takes Two

Encouraging flexibility in management styles is a great way for you to have more control and input over your everyday office life and career.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1542-managing-upwards-it-takes-two.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Professional And Managament: Radio Advertising Really Can Make The Cash Roll In

Radio advertising has taken a ghetto blasting over the years, as technology made its advancement across the World Wide Web and influenced megabytes of customers to sell their goods and services online. However, it is still a highly effective form of advertising especially for the small business. Local radio is akin to a family friend which for many, is a trusted confidant and therefore a perfect way to build rapport and gain valuable new clients.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1575-professional-and-managament--radio-advertising-really-can-make-cash-roll-in.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Influencing Skills: Dream Your Team To Success

There are two ways that leaders can inspire their team...either via a beautiful vision which fills the heart and soul with joy or by fumbling around in the dark, cautious of what lies ahead and blinkered or disinterested in the ultimate goal. The most successful leaders are the ones who share their deepest dreams with their team, who fill them with the same sense of awe that they feel when the dream is recalled. The leaders who struggle are the ones who keep these beautiful images to themselves but still expect the people around them to turn that vision into reality.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1587-dream-your-team-success.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Tell Pushiness To Push Off With New Influencing Skills

Taking a passive approach in the workplace could mean that you miss out on career-changing opportunities, which encourages some employees to develop their influencing skills.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1541-tell-pushiness-push-off-with-new-influencing-skills.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Professional And Management: Feng Shui Can Make Every Day Profitable And Successful

Feng Shui is an Eastern Culture which is often misunderstood and associated with thoughts of New Age mumbo jumbo. But when you consider this ancient understanding is based upon astronomy, geography and psychology is it really just another whacky form of superstitious nonsense, magic or rituals that lead people into a false sense of security or does it really yield positive results?

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1589-professional-and-management--feng-shui-can-make-every-day-profitable-and-successful.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Can Spending Money On Others Bring Financial Happiness?

They say that money can't buy you love and this is certainly true but money spent on others can certainly bring you a whole heap of happiness. So why does treating a friend or family member bring out the 'happy' hormone?

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1492-can-spending-money-on-others-bring-financial-happiness.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com

Presentation Preparation To Beat Those Nerves

There is, no doubt, any amount of information available that will help you improve your presentation skills. This information may offer pointers as to what makes a good presenter, but if you want to see the whole spectrum of presentation skills on display, both good and bad, look no further than Dragons' Den. Here you will see the slick and the slipshod, the flash and the floundering, and the proficient and the panic-stricken.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1569-presentation-preparation-beat-those-nerves.html

Regards,
The Microsoft Training Blog Team
http://microsoft-training.blogspot.com