Office Applications: A Star Turn From Each

There are various applications that make up the Microsoft Office suite, and a bonus is that they can integrate in order to work with each other. For example, data from an Excel worksheet can be exported to an Access database, and a diagram created in Visio can be embedded into a Word document.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1971-office-applications-star-turn-from-each.html

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

Stress Management For Stressed Managers: Managing Your Life Towards Greater Productivity

An element of stress is more or less inevitable in a management position; there'll always be more issues to deal with, more targets to reach, more demands to address, more obstacles to overcome. But stress shouldn't be seen as an absolute, and the fact that the role invites stress shouldn't be seen as tacit acceptance of that stress growing without limits. It can be controlled, restrained, kept to levels that are healthy for you personally and for your contribution at work. You're a manager, after all; it's time to manage yourself.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1948-stress-management-stressed-managers-managing-your-life-towards-greater-productivity.html

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

Read The Signs For Effective Upward Management

One of the most useful attributes you can have in managing upwards is the ability to read people and their situations. Being a good listener is essential, but your managerial antennae should always be alert to the behaviour of your own manager and you should try to slot into his or her bandwidth.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1974-read-signs-effective-upward-management.html

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

Intrinsic Or Extrinsic Motivation

Although it is his day off, Charlie takes an unexpected call from his boss, Tom, who asks for his help. Tom explains that he has a rush job that needs to be done today, and he asks if Charlie would like to do it. The job is to mow a large area of grass with a heavy, petrol-powered mower. Charlie thinks about this for a moment and then declines the offer. "Mowing grass is just plain boring," he says.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1976-intrinsic-or-extrinsic-motivation.html

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

Tools You Need For Time Management

You'd think that to manage your time better, all you need to do is focus, retrain yourself and how you use your time, and set yourself different goals with a new awareness of how time is eaten up or saved during your working day. This is somewhat true, but it's also worth pointing out that you need some tools to help you - thankfully, most are inexpensive and some of them you'll already own. What are they?

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1981-tools-you-need-time-management.html

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

Are You Reactive Or Proactive At Work?

The bulk of learning about Emotional Intelligence at work is actually realising certain traits in yourself and then working to emphasise the good ones and reduce the bad ones, although it's not always that simple. Many of us have traits that have been with us since childhood, and they are very well ingrained and hard to change - but recognising they are there is half the battle.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1983-are-you-reactive-or-proactive-at-work.html

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

Five Essentials For Getting Meetings Right

A shockingly large amount of the meetings we attend at work are considered to be a waste of time by those who go to them. Why? Meetings should be an exciting opportunity to talk to the team and take a project forward, yet many of us don't look forward to them or even avoid them if we can. This isn't what a meeting should be, so if you have to hold one, here are five things that you need to be in place for you to get it right.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1985-five-essentials-getting-meetings-right.html

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

How To Hire And Fire Successfully

At first, it may strike you as odd to think of firing someone as something that can be done "successfully", but there are more elements to being a manager who hires and fires than you think. A good piece of advice often given out in the business world to those new at management is that you should hire people slowly, and fire people quickly. It's one of the hardest parts of being a manager, so here's how to do both:

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1986-how-hire-and-fire-successfully.html

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

Time That Shouldn't Be Managed

Sometimes, turning something on its head (such as Time Management) can create new ideas and ways of looking at it, and how it applies to your working life. The truth is, there's only ever going to be 24 hours in a day, so better time management should mean more time. But it's what you do with that time that counts. In order to remain healthy - both physically and mentally - at work, you need to reserve time for some things that shouldn't be managed, squeezed or messed with.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1987-time-that-shouldnt-be-managed.html

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

Never Lose It In Translation With Excel

According to a recent survey highlighting the mistakes made in call centres, the name Jacqueline is the most commonly misspelt English name, with more than an astounding 800 mistaken variations. And if you are a Elizabeth, Patricia or Deborah, you are also very likely to have your name misspelt. While it is extremely frustrating to anyone with these names, this kind of inaccuracy is also affecting businesses financially.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1991-never-lose-it-in-translation-with-excel.html

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

Don't Wait Until The Horse Has Bolted Get MailTips

It's the stuff that nightmares are made of. You have just realised that you have emailed sensitive data to the wrong group of people. Or you have sent a message about your high-maintenance client - detailing their every whim and demand - as a reply to that client.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1994-dont-wait-until-horse-has-bolted-get-mailtips.html

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

How To Secure Your Next Career Move Without Leaving The Office

Social networking is going to change the way we advertise - and apply - for jobs. While the boss may regard your office tweets as time wasting, it is fast becoming the way employers are spotting - and recruiting - new talent. Social networking has led to social recruiting and it's no longer viewed as a tool only to catch up with friends and family. It's even possible to send a public profile data from a business professional network directly to an employer using social networking sites. And this community is growing: LinkedIn, for example, has 100 million members, while Face book has 750 million, and Twitter 200 million.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1995-how-secure-your-next-career-move-without-leaving-office.html

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

Help To Take Note With PowerPoint

Even after 60 years, one of the most effective ways to take notes and remember what they mean has to be the Cornell note-taking system. Devised in the 1950s by educationalist Walter Pauk at Cornell University, for many it is the best way to condense and organise notes. The Cornell system works based on the following system: divide your notepaper into two columns: the note-taking column (usually on the right) should be twice the size of the questions/key word column (on the left). It's best to leave five to seven blank lines from the bottom of the page.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1996-help-take-note-with-powerpoint.html

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

How To Cut To The Chase With PowerPoint

A common complaint audiences make about PowerPoint presentations is that they are too verbose. The sheer volume of text on each slide annoys us. Coupled with this is the fact that a presenter usually reads the text verbatim. Other grievances are that the text is too small to read; presenters have used sentences instead of bullet points; bad colour choice makes slides hard to read; and charts and diagrams are too complicated to understand.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1997-how-cut-chase-with-powerpoint.html

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

How To Get More With Less With PowerPoint

The true test of how clever a phrase is, is how it stands the test of time. "Less is more", for example, is a perfect illustration of a brilliant turn of phrase. Coined by Robert Browning in a poem he wrote in 1855, it has indeed stood the test in time. The term was adopted in the 1940s by minimalist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and it truly displays his devotion to pure Modernist design. And it's still in constant use today. Less is more can be applied anywhere from ballroom to boardroom. Think of when you create a PowerPoint presentation, for example: Do you really have to have slide after slide with just one image on each? Why not try to use one slide and add elements with effects to create more continuity?

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1998-get-more-with-less-with-powerpoint.html

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

How To Successfully Manage Change

You've gone through the checklist at least a dozen times: equipment, software,

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1999-how-successfully-manage-change.html

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

How To Develop Your Leadership Skills

You should always try to be yourself - although a more professional version of yourself - at work. If you are not naturally authoritative, suddenly dishing out orders to your team will seem very strange and is unlikely to earn you the respect of those you manage. Instead, think about your natural manner, strengths and skills, and how you can use the authority you have in a positive way.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2000-how-develop-your-leadership-skills.html

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

The Secret To Managing Teams In Different Geographical Locations

Microsoft offers a host of software solutions that makes managing teams remotely easier. You can schedule regular conference calls amongst the team members using Office Outlook, for example. By interacting with each other regularly as a group, they can begin to develop more positive team relationships. Email communication is essential, so try to encourage other team members to do the same through Outlook. Although remote teams don't have the same amount of face-to-face time as more traditional teams, using technology such as videoconferencing, or instant messaging allows team members to become more familiar and comfortable with each other.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2001-the-secret-managing-teams-in-different-geographical-locations.html

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

Improving Your Unspoken Communication

When learning new or improved communication skills, we're often told that the way we say something is as important as what we're saying.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2002-improving-your-unspoken-communication.html

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

Preparing Your Workplace For Training

These days it's quite common for training to take place in your office rather than in a training venue. The advantages of this are that the staff who need training are already present, and there's no need to cover the additional expense of travel and having a day (or more) out of the office. What's more is that your staff will be learning in a familiar environment, hopefully with equipment that they already use every day, so that it's easier and faster for them to learn.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2003-preparing-your-workplace-training.html

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

Masterful Money Management For A Better Business

It's nice to know that the best things in life are free - as we've always been told - but sadly, the most important things in life frequently cost money. Food, shelter, clothing, warmth, light, all have a habit of carrying a price and eating their way into our bank balance. Inevitably, the same is true in business, only more so - whereas many of those best things by which we might judge our personal lives are free, few if any signs of success in business come without a cost.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1949-masterful-money-management-better-business.html

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

Why It's Vital To Learn The Lessons Of Past Projects

"The broad river will be dry some day, and great towns wane; we see them vanishing. Thus may we see the end to everything." So said Geoffrey Chaucer - well, what he exactly said was "The brode ryver somtyme wexeth dreye, the grete toures se we wane and wende. Thanne may ye se that al this thyng hath ende" but I'm sure you can forgive me for modernising a little - and it's never stopped being true. Everything, however grand or vast, will one day reach its conclusion. There truly is eternity in nothing that we do.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1947-why-its-vital-learn-lessons-past-projects.html

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

Train The Trainer: How Accelerated Learning Techniques Can Fast Track Your Training

With technology moving at such an alarming pace, employees need to be able to pick up new skills quickly. As trainers we need to be able to deliver courses that meet this need. How can we do this when the course duration may be only one or two days for a complex subject?

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1891-accelerated-learning-fast-track-training.html

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

Should I Use Data Bars, Colour Scales Or Icon Sets In Excel?

The Conditional Formatting tool in Excel is an extremely useful part of the application. When reporting figures in the format of tables full of numbers either to individuals or groups, it has long been recognised that a visual representation will help to get the meaning of the numbers across. The value in one field is 65, but is that good or bad? It usually depends on what you are comparing it to. Conditional formatting provides a simple way to show a comparison between figures in a table or the meaning behind the figures without having to spend time compiling a full report with pages of pie charts and fancy bar graphs.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1936-should-i-use-data-bars-colour-scales-or-icon-sets-in-excel.html

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

How We Got To The Perfect Spreadsheet: A Brief History

The release of Microsoft Excel 2010 has refined the nature of electronic spreadsheets so comprehensively that it is nigh on impossible now to envisage any other type of workbook other than that generated by Microsoft. Sure there are competitors out there but they are so far behind Excel both in terms of capability and profile that to all intents and purposes spreadsheet equals Excel in most professionals' minds.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1938-how-we-got-perfect-spreadsheet-brief-history.html

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

Assertiveness At Work: It's More Than Just Saying 'no'!

Okay, you - yes, you - stop what you're doing and listen to me. I'm going to tell you exactly what you're to do. You must read this article, thoroughly, reread it, absorb everything that it says and every piece of advice it offers; you must take time to digest and fully understand how it might relate to your life; and then, I insist that you track down other articles that I've written and take the same approach to them. You don't have any choice in the matter, so get going.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1939-assertiveness-at-work--its-more-than-just-saying-no!.html

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

Preparation - The Key To Prosperity In Changing Times

"Because things are the way they are," declared Bertolt Brecht, "things will not stay the way they are".  These words fit almost any situation; there is little true permanence in the world, only the flux of unending change.  It may be sudden, huge, explosive, a massive upheaval - or it may be an intangible undercurrent, imperceptibly moving all around, still at a moment's glance but striking when looked at across lengths of time.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1940-preparation-key-prosperity-in-changing-times.html

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

Time Is Money - And Wasting It Can Cost More Than You Realise

Were you to drop a penny piece down the gutter, it probably wouldn't affect you terribly badly. You might not even notice. Replace that penny with a pound coin, and perhaps it might look a little more serious. Make that ten pounds, and you're probably going to be rather annoyed to say the least, perhaps genuinely disadvantaged as a result.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1941-time-is-money-and-wasting-it-can-cost-more-than-you-realise.html

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

Effective Communication Skills: Talk The Talk By Absorbing Information Like A Sponge

As each new professional day dawns, we find ourselves bombarded with information to understand and digest. Whether it is detailed emails, proposals or lengthy reports, the speed at which we read and absorb information is vital to how we communicate with colleagues and management. Knowledge really is the key to success.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1886-absorb-information-like-sponge.html

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

Find The Best Time For Important Meetings

Meetings come in all sizes and settings and are often labelled with power titles that set the precedence for the occasion. The Americans made this famous by introducing the three Martini lunch which consisted of indulgent but laid back dining, where business matters were discussed over Martinis to allow the conversation to flow with more fluidity. Thankfully, this never made a great impact in the UK and slowly faded out as alcohol and business did not create the perfect cocktail! In the UK, the complete contrast came via the caffeine-laden power breakfast and afternoon tea gatherings.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1889-best-time-day-important-meetings.html

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

How To Curb Fears Related To Public Speaking

There is an affliction which is affecting the lives of millions of employees...it is known scientifically as glossophobia but the layman will recognise it as a fear of public speaking. This does not necessarily mean a fear of talking to an auditorium filled with 5000 people; it could mean talking to a small group of staff or even team members.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1893-curb-fears-public-speaking.html

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

Professional And Management: Recognise Your Personality Through Your Email Style

One thing which is unique to each and every one of us is the way that we send and reply to e-mails. Find your personality, follow the guidance and look forward to bigger and better things in your professional and private life, online and offline.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1912-recognise-your-personality-through-your-email-style.html

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

Presenting A Picture Perfect First Impression

The Cannes film festival is famous the world over for many reasons. There's the glamour, of course, the ultra-exclusive location on the French Riviera, world famous stars and directors wandering the Promenade de la Croisette. There are the movies with many high-profile Hollywood pictures premiering during the festival. And then there are the prizes, awards that can be slapped onto a promotional poster or DVD cover and push sales up dramatically.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1942-presenting-picture-perfect-first-impression.html

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

Boost Staff Moral And Company Profits In The Process

Being a manager is not about just having a fancy title that emanates a position of responsibility. It is about having the innate ability to work well with people in such a way as to achieve positive results.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1917-boost-staff-moral-and-company-profits.html

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

Boost Staff Moral And Company Profits In The Process

Being a manager is not about just having a fancy title that emanates a position of responsibility. It is about having the innate ability to work well with people in such a way as to achieve positive results.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1917-boost-staff-moral-and-company-profits.html

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

Managing Teams Remotely: How To Work Around The Challenges Of A Virtual Workforce

Upon browsing the internet, the general consensus is that virtual companies who use technology to link up with staff yield an increase in productivity from 8% to 15%. Add to this a workforce who are proficient in home working and you have a recipe for success. But how do you choose those workers who will thrive in a home working environment?

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1918-managing-virtual-workforce.html

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

Delegate To Succeed: Bring Out The Best In Your Workforce And Create A Thriving Future

How many of us have started the day with good intentions only to find that at the end it, our to-do list is still as long as it was in the morning. If this sounds like you, there is a very simple time management tool that you can use known as delegation.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1920-delegate-succeed.html

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

Take Inspiration From The Greatest Project Managers Of All Time

Project management can often be a thankless task; juggling the requirements of team members and stakeholders, obsessively combing over resources and budget, constantly motivating and monitoring others when you may be struggling yourself. And if the project is considered a success it will be viewed as a team effort whereas if it fails the buck stops with the Project Manager (PM).

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1937-take-inspiration-greatest-project-managers-all-time.html

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

Problem Solving And Decision Making: Put On Your Thinking Caps

Many professionals view problems from a rational and positive angle which keeps success flowing their way. However, there are some leaders who find problem solving a complex task to master which can have a detrimental impact on their career.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1919-put-on-your-thinking-caps.html

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

Assess Your Decision Making: Key Parts Of The Process

Whether we like it or not (and most of us do not) our lives are filled with decisions. Every day there are a million little decisions and a handful of more crucial ones to get to grips with. From the personal and emotional to the professional and dispassionate the way in which we solve these daily problems can have a considerable impact on our lives.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1934-assess-your-decision-making.html

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

Make The Most Of Your PIP

Performance management is one of the most difficult aspects of a project to get right. Because you are dealing with emotional, unpredictable human beings rather than cold, hard facts and statistics, navigating your way around the insecurities and egos of colleagues can create a lot of unforeseen tension and resentment.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1935-make-most-your-pip.html

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

Managing Change: Innovative Ways To Boost Your Company's Creativity

If you truly want your company to be creative you must want it with all of your heart and soul. Do you really want staff bounding up to you with new ideas? Would this enthusiasm fill you with joy or sorrow? If you answered 'joy' then you need to find a way for your team to share those 'light bulb' moments.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1910-boost-your-companys-creativity.html

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

Facilitation And Meeting Skills: How To Mix Business With Pleasure And Still Remain Professional

A business function takes us away from the office environment and it can be easy to forget that we are at work, away from the formalities of the workplace. We need to be aware of the way that we act when we are in a more relaxed ambience. The focus of attention is professional communication.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1888-how-mix-business-with-pleasure-and-still-remain-professional.html

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

Assertiveness At Work: How To Communicate Effectively With Few Words

Whether it is competing for a job or working toward career enhancement, we all need to be at the top of our game to achieve those desired results and propel forward. Therefore, it is essential to learn a form of communication which does not rely on the spoken word as the only means of interaction.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1885-communicate-effectively-with-few-words.html

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

Professional And Management: How To Brush Along Nicely With Every Member Of The Office

There are always one or two characters in the office who just rub us up the wrong way or always seem to have it in for us. The trick is learning how to get on with them so as they no longer have the power to drain us. The following article will outline all of their little traits and show us how to deal with them.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1916-get-along-with-every-member-office.html

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

How To Make Sure Your Mail Is Safe In The Cloud

The risk of data loss is becoming a real worry for all sectors of industry as devices become much more mobile. Cloud storage is seen as the best way of managing this risk as the trend is to move away from using the cloud as a convenient way of moving files between computers, to using it as a way of disconnecting physical storage from the files. It means that even when your hardware is replaced or extended, your data is always accessible. And cloud operating system allows users to access their files whenever and wherever they can connect to the Internet, through everyday devices including smartphones, PDAs, tablets, laptops and desktop PCs.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1923-how-make-sure-your-mail-is-safe-in-cloud.html

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

There's More To SEO Than Meets The Eye

So much of our daily lives is driven by the Internet that it's easy to take its influencing power it for granted. The Internet has revolutionised the way we do business and the way we run our personal lives. Whether you are shopping online, or composing a business profile - it's important to build and maintain an online presence without taking the power of the Internet for granted. Most of us spend a grand total of 23 seconds contemplating search results to decide on which web address we are going to access. And the correct optimisation of a web page is just as important: no longer can a site survive below the fold on the second page. If a web page is not being displayed above the fold on the first page, searchers are likely to move on.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1926-theres-more-seo-than-meets-eye.html

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

Create Contrasting Coloured Rows In Excel

Back in the early days of computers, before WYSIWYG changed our lives, lumbering dot matrix printers were state of the art. These mechanical monsters screeched like a seagull with toothache as they produced data in a barely readable shade of grey on tractor-feed paper. There was a choice of one font and it came in a single size. To make deciphering data produced on these printers easier on the eye, specialist paper was introduced which had two contrasting shades running horizontally to help guide the eyes along the same line of data.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1896-create-contrasting-coloured-rows-in-excel.html

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

Replacing Cell Formats In An Entire Excel Workbook

In the current economic climate, with the utilities companies announcing huge price rises and petrol prices at an all time high, many people are embarking on economy drives to save money in the home and the workplace.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1897-replacing-cell-formats-in-entire-excel-workbook.html

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

Why Up To Date Communications Are Essential In Upward Management

From Ebenezer Scrooge maltreating his clerk, Bob Cratchit in Dickens's A Christmas Carol, to the tyrannical Blakey making the lives of his bus crews a misery in the sitcom On the Buses, the relationship between bosses and those under their authority has often been portrayed as one where the latter live in fear of the former. Fortunately we now live in more enlightened times, where the emphasis is on communication rather than domination.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1903-why-up-date-communications-are-essential-in-upward-management.html

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

Planning A Marketing Strategy With The Help Of An Buridan's Ass

Keep an eye out for me on Dragons' Den, where I hope to demonstrate my latest invention, the wind-powered fan. It is compact, tactile and comes in a range of colours. I only hope there is a breeze blowing through the Den.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1904-planning-marketing-strategy-with-help-buridans-ass.html

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

Keep Track Of Those Important Developments With Notes In MS Project

These days we have at our disposal an array of communication devices that means we need never miss an appointment or forget a birthday again. From online calendars to mobile phone alerts, we can store reminders months in advance and then forget about them until the alert sounds. Some applications have e-sticky notes for those quickly jotted down messages, and many mobile phones have voice recorders for those times when we can't find a pencil.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1905-keep-track-those-important-developments-with-notes-in-ms-project.html

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

Insert A Photo Exactly Where You Want It In Word

It might be stating the obvious when I say that the capabilities of Microsoft Word stretch way beyond the processing of words. There are all kinds of effects and graphics that can turn ordinary text into something special.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1906-insert-photo-exactly-where-you-want-it-in-word.html

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

Marking Your Words With Adobe Acrobat

It seems fitting that one of the most used guide books in the UK was the brainwave of a woman who had got lost on her way to a party. Hard though she tried, Phyllis Pearsall could not find the London address on the most up-to-date map available. This was due to the fact that the most recent map in 1935 of the city had been published in 1919. So, armed with a notebook and pencil, and clocking up 3,000 miles, Phyllis went out on the streets of London every morning at 5am to painstakingly draw every street and walkway into a reference book. The result was the first London A-Z.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1924-marking-your-words-with-adobe-acrobat.html

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

How To Use Concatenation In Access To Create A Custom Lookup

It's a mouthful to pronounce but CONCATENATION in Access is a really useful feature when it comes to combining data. This article describes how to use concatenation to create a custom lookup for use in a Combo control by using a query to combine fields from an existing staff table. The Combo lookup to be used in another table is to show complete staff names in the pop down list.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1616-how-use-concatenation-in-access-create-custom-lookup.html

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

How To Use A Parameter Query In Access

If you've created regular queries in Access, for example to list staff records from a particular table in surname order, then you may have also used criteria to select only certain records. The Parameter query takes this one step further and allows the user to enter different criteria data each time the query is run, without having to re-edit the query. This is the power of the parameter query.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1353-how-use-parameter-query-in-access.html

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

How To Disguise Error Messages In Excel 2007/2010

You will no doubt have seen one or more error message in Excel indicating a problem with data or a formula. These error messages are there for good reason, but there may be occasions when you want to disguise the errors or substitute a certain value in all cells containing an error messages. For example you might want to sum a range of cells even though some cells contain error messages. This article describes a very useful Excel 2007/2010 function which will do just that, the IFERROR function.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1742-how-disguise-error-messages-in-excel-2007/2010.html

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

How To Use Lookups For Data Entry In Microsoft Access

If you've used any version of Microsoft Access you'll have found that you can spend lots of time entering data into tables, and sometimes you may type in the wrong data or misspell the correct data. You can make data entry easier and more accurate by ensure that data for a particular table field comes from a list you specify, and you want to be able to select this data from a pop down list. You can do this using the lookup feature. This article describes how to do this using a list you can type into the field property directly for data which never changes, or using a list from another table for data you may want to change from time to time.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1871-use-lookups-data-entry-in-microsoft-access.html

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

How To Understand Access As A Relational Database

Whether you're new to working with Access 2010 or you've used the application for some time, you may wonder what the term "Relational Database" means. This article describes this term and illustrates how it is used in Access.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1870-how-understand-access-as-relational-database.html

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

How To Change Working Times For Microsoft Project 2007 Calendars

Whether you've just starting to use Microsoft Project 2007 or you're an experienced user, you may have needed to change the working times for the project's calendar. This article describes how to do this in clear easy to follow steps, creating a new Standard Calendar, setting tasks to default to new times and using the Organiser to make your new calendar available to other Project plans.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1877-how-change-working-times-microsoft-project-2007-calendars.html

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

How Animations Are Organized In PowerPoint 2007/2010

If you've used previous PowerPoint versions you'll have used animations in two main ways. These are animations schemes which apply to whole slides, and custom animations which apply to individual items. In PowerPoint 2007/2010 animation schemes are gone, but instead you have an enhanced Animations tab. This article describes how animations are organized in PowerPoint 2007/2010.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1881-how-animations-are-organized-in-powerpoint-2007/2010.html

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

How To Edit The Animation Trigger In PowerPoint 2010

Whether you're new to PowerPoint 2010 or an experienced user, you may have used the Add Animations feature to add effects such as Entrance or Exit to items on a slide. Did you know you can change how these effects are triggered? This article summarises how to edit the trigger feature and shows how these can be used in a simple example.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1882-how-edit-animation-trigger-in-powerpoint-2010.html

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

How To Learn From Your Excel Mistakes

The old adage that we "learn more from our mistakes" seems to have been proven wrong. New research now shows that our brain only learns from experience when we do something right. Studying monkeys, scientists gave the animals the task of looking at two alternating images on a computer screen. For one picture, the monkey was rewarded when it shifted its gaze to the right; for another it was similarly rewarded for looking the other way. The researchers found that by looking at monkeys' brain activity, it responded more positively to a correct answer. When they failed to get the right image however, there was little or no change in the brain, or any improvement in behaviour. It seems that although brain cells keep track of whether recent behaviours were successful or not, we learn quicker when we get things right.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1925-how-learn-from-your-excel-mistakes.html

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

How To Create A Resource Calendar In Project 2007

As you build your skills in using Project 2007 you'll have created project plans using tasks and resources. Project uses the same project calendar for tasks and resources, but did you know you can create separate calendars for each resource? This article describes how to do this in clear easy to follow steps.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1879-how-create-resource-calendar-in-project-2007.html

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

How Visio Makes Complex Data Look Pure But Not So Simple

An indication of good design is if it stands the test of time. From chairs to cars, and maps to telephone kiosks, anything that is successful still inspires new designs years after the original creation. Standing the test of time means that a design has achieved longevity: only the test of time can determine true quality. When it comes to diagrams, a tried and tested old favourite which is nearing its centenary year has to be the Venn diagram.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1500-how-visio-makes-complex-data-look-pure-but-not-so-simple.html

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

How To Use Slicers In Excel 2010

One of the very useful new features introduced in Excel 2010 is the slightly strange sounding term Slicers. These are used only with Pivot Tables and let you easily see and change settings for autofilter applied to a pivot table. This article describes how to use them and summarises their features.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1876-how-use-slicers-in-excel-2010.html

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

How To Create A Backup In Outlook 2010

Once you've started using Outlook 2010 you may need to organize regular backups. This article describes a simple and effective way to do this for all your Outlook data. You can then repeat this at regular intervals to help manage your emails effectively.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1880-how-create-backup-in-outlook-2010.html

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

Guide To Adding A Text Box Form Control In Access 2010

Once you've starting using Microsoft Access 2010 you'll no doubt have created forms based on your tables of data. All forms use text box Form controls to do this, and this short article describes what these are and summarises how to use them.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1868-adding-text-box-form-control-access-2010.html

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

Adding Narration To A PowerPoint Slide Show

To improve the delivery of your PowerPoint presentation you can add a sound file to the slide show. A slight variation on that is to add a narration. This can be useful if you will not be attending the presentation, but you want it to go ahead exactly as you plan it.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1898-adding-narration-powerpoint-slide-show.html

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

Insert An Excel Chart Into Your PowerPoint Presentation

Billy's PowerPoint presentation was generally agreed to have been amazing. It had everything, from stirring rock music to slick animations, and bullets on a scale not seen since Bonnie and Clyde were ambushed. There were stunning photographs and enough sound effects for a remake of Star Wars. In fact, one impressed viewer likened it to a trip to the cinema.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1899-insert-excel-chart-into-your-powerpoint-presentation.html

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

How Training Can Help Prevent Executive Derailment

You have just introduced a new suite of software to lighten the load of weekly sales planning. However, far from reaching for those upper-most branches, your top sales manager looks like they are not even picking up the fallen fruit. You're not sure if their sudden lack lustre approach is connected with the installation of the updated software, or if it's something else that's making them feel swamped. If you are responsible for training in your organisation then it's a good idea to stay ahead of the game when it comes to spotting which members of staff might need more consolidation in their learning - or even a different approach to how they are trained.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1921-how-training-can-help-prevent-executive-derailment.html

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

Are You Aware Of The Role Of Informal Learning?

If your organisation has recently taken part in a formal training course, then chances are that on their return to the office, colleagues will automatically embark on their own informal learning; learning to use new software, for example, in their own environment. The nature of informal learning prevents management controlling how and what is learned following a formal training course. However, when this happens organisations should ensure that informal learning can happen quickly and workers are able to access the information they need when they need it.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1922-the-role-informal-learning.html

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

Now You Can Create A Story With A Happy Ending

Old habits do, indeed, take years to break. A creature of habit myself, I still prefer to access some commands using my mouse. I was reminded of this when I read an article recently listing 25 of the worst PC habits. These ranged from failing to take care of security software (careless) to using a laptop in bed (sad, but true). And then there was the bad habit that's a little too close to home - failing to use keyboard shortcuts. Yes, I am guilty of pointing - my mouse that is, usually at the toolbar to find the Print command and sometimes even the Save command if I am having a particularly stressful day. So when someone suggested that I use InDesign instead of my trusted word-based software to edit large documents, I decided to break the habit of many years.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1927-now-you-can-create-story-with-happy-ending.html

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

Fast, Effective Relief: Microsoft Project Cures Most Planning Headaches

PharmaComms could be described as a victim of its own success. The editorial and design company produce niche market publications for the pharmaceutical industry. Using award-winning designers and first-class editors, they have been doing really well recently and even recruited four new trainees to help with the demand. Their headquarters are fast becoming a centre of excellence in the magazine world as they take on new work for a portfolio of prestigious clients across the globe. As they are set to expand their editorial and production facilities, they also need a complete management system that they can rely on.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1931-fast-effective-relief-microsoft-project-cures-most-planning-headaches.html

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

Five Tips For Better Negotiation

Negotiation is commonplace in business, and chances are that once you've negotiated with one party, it won't be the last time you'll see them again. That's why negotiating aggressively, as if it's something that you have to win and they have to lose, probably won't work in the long run. Here are a few methods and tips on negotiation that can ensure it's not about trampling on the other party, but about building a relationship of honesty, openness, trust, and above all - where both sides see it as win-win.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1405-five-tips-better-negotiation.html

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

Microsoft Access: Access Its Full Potential For Business Rewards

Have you been using Access for a while and think you could get more out of it, but don't know how? Are you new to the program and don't know where to start? Or perhaps you want find out how Access can help your business thrive.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1933-access-full-potential-business-rewards.html

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