Microsoft Training

Is Your Professional Future Predicted In The Stars?

2011-11-25T12:42:00.001Z

Many people make it a daily habit to check our horoscopes in the newspaper on the way to work. For some people it may be the desire to gain insight into what may lie ahead, or others see it as light-hearted relief before the work day starts. How about a management style related horoscope for today...what would the stars be telling you about your management style today?

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1683-is-your-professional-future-predicted-in-stars.html

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

Why You Don't Need To Dice With Dirty Data Or Dodgy Databases

2011-11-21T22:16:00.001Z

More than 25% of the most critical data in the world's top companies is flawed. The problem, however, is due to bad business practice and not to any IT glitches. Safe and secure databases require hardware and software that you can trust. And in a world of continuously growing amounts of data, data quality is also crucial. Whether you are interested in data capture, data cleaning or data enhancement, in order to store, retrieve and analyse your data is going to be of prime importance.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1930-why-you-dont-need-dice-with-dirty-data-or-dodgy-databases.html

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

Turn Negative Thoughts At Work Into Positive Actions

2011-11-21T22:01:00.001Z

All of us at one time or another has become a victim to those 'little voices' in our head which fuel an emotion or event and turn it into something dark and depressing.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1475-negative-thoughts-into-positive-actions.html

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

Sorting Birthdates Into Their Respective Months In Excel

2011-11-21T20:48:00.001Z

The marketing team at Dodd Gee Enterprises have come up with an inventive wheeze that they hope will fleece their entire clientele of a portion of their hard-earned cash. Their records contain information on each client, including dates of birth, and it is through this that the scam will operate.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2020-sorting-birthdates-into-their-respective-months-in-excel.html

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

Developing Your Access Skills. The Recipe For Success

2011-11-21T20:41:00.001Z

There's a site on the internet that I've been using quite a lot lately. It's very handy: you tell it what ingredients you have lying about in your fridge or cupboard, and it tells you what you can make out of them. Ingenious, effective, and a real time-saver - no more rummaging around in cookbooks hunting for some inspiration.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2011-developing-your-access-skills-recipe-success.html

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

How To Create An Excel 2010 Chart To Show Both A Number And A Percent Data Series

2011-11-21T20:38:00.001Z

Excel 2010 charts are very versatile, and let you chart more than one set of data on the same chart. What if one of the data sets in is percent? This article explains how to create a chart with two sets of data, one number and the other of percent and allow both sets to display on the same chart. The secret is in using a secondary axis.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2013-how-create-excel-2010-chart-show-both-number-and-percent-data-series.html

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

Young Bosses Teach Older Employees New Tricks

2011-11-21T20:34:00.001Z

Young bosses may be viewed with hostility and great resentment by their older peers. This may stem from the view that they are too 'wet behind the ears' to have the experience required to make important decisions.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-996-young-bosses-teach-older-employees-new-tricks.html

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

How To Create A Macro In Excel 2010

2011-11-21T20:31:00.001Z

Have you ever wondered how to go about creating an Excel macro? A macro can be a really effective way to automate actions you carry out repeatedly and can be used in a great variety of situations. This article describes how to create a macro in Excel 2010 and summarises practical examples.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2014-how-create-macro-in-excel-2010.html

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

Learn To Do The Quick Steps In Outlook 2010

2011-11-21T20:28:00.001Z

One of several new features introduced in Outlook 2010 is Quick Steps. This feature lets you create a list of custom actions to apply to emails. There are some presets supplied which you can edit, and you can also create your own. This article describes how to get to grips with this very useful feature of Outlook 2010.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2015-learn-do-quick-steps-in-outlook-2010.html

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

How To Share Files In Excel 2010

2011-11-20T19:44:00.001Z

Whether you're new to working with Excel 2010 or you're an experienced user, you may have come across the Share feature in Excel. This lets several people work on the same Excel file at the same time. This article describes how to create an Excel shared file and summarises how a shared file can be used.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2016-how-share-files-in-excel-2010.html

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

How Does The Startup Work When Access 2010 Launches The Northwind Database

2011-11-20T19:42:00.001Z

Every version of Microsoft Access includes the example database Northwind. When you open the Northwind database a particular form open. This tradition continues with Access 2010. If you create Northwind in Access 2010 using the supplied template, and then open the database, a form opens, depending on whether the file sources is trusted or not. Then a Login form loads where you make a selection and then the Home form opens. This article describes how this is done.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2017-how-does-startup-work-when-access-2010-launches-northwind-database.html

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

How To Negotiate Positively In Business

2011-11-20T19:39:00.001Z

Ideally, negotiation should always end in a win/win outcome, but many people tend to forget that and view it as something far more competitive and aggressive. Knowing how not to negotiate is probably a good start at honing your actual negotiating skills, because it prevents you from making common mistakes early on, and allows you to practise your technique over time.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2033-how-negotiate-positively-in-business.html

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

How To Manage Upwards For The First Time

2011-11-20T18:18:00.001Z

Many people who are asked to 'manage upwards' and who don't know what it is could be forgiven for getting into somewhat of a panic. Managing upwards? It goes against logic - surely management only ever gets directed downwards, as that's the whole point of being a manager and a leader?

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2035-how-manage-upwards-first-time.html

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

Three Essentials For The New Manager

2011-11-20T18:07:00.001Z

If you're about to be a manager for the first time, your level of confidence will be reflected in your previous experience. Perhaps you've acted up or stood in for your boss on occasion, so the job isn't that daunting for you. Perhaps you've led a team before, but have not had this level of responsibility.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2034-three-essentials-new-manager.html

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

Improving Financial Performance In Business

2011-11-20T18:02:00.001Z

If you're a non-financial manager, you may think that the improvement of finance is little to do with you - and best left to the accountants. That's not strictly true, because finance has a domino affect on every part of the business, including your salary.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2036-improving-financial-performance-in-business.html

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

Using Creativity To Solve Problems At Work

2011-11-20T17:47:00.001Z

When faced with a problem or a difficult decision at work, we normally try to solve it in a serious, methodical way. Although this often works, many of us leave out a critical tool in our problem-solving arsenal, and that's the ability to use creativity to solve problems. We've all heard of it - usually deemed "thinking outside the box" or "from left field", but many of us either don't practise this or don't know how. Here are some tips on how to unleash your creative side when faced with a problem or decision:

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2032-using-creativity-solve-problems-at-work.html

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

Three Ways To Manage Your Team Better With Outlook

2011-11-20T17:35:00.001Z

Contrary to what many people think, Outlook isn't just for email. It can be used to good effect when managing a team or even just sorting out a project among your colleagues, when a larger programme such as Project might be overkill. If you have the full Office suite, then you can also integrate your Outlook use with Word, Excel and other programs to make managing your team easier. Here are three ways you could use Outlook to make your management tasks easier.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2037-three-ways-manage-your-team-better-with-outlook.html

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

How To Create Navigation Forms In Microsoft Access

2011-11-08T09:12:00.001Z

If you've used Microsoft Access for a little while, you'll no doubt have come across different ways to navigate between the different Access objects of forms, tables, queries and reports. Access versions from 97 to 2007 give you the option of creating and using Switchboards to create your own navigation system, whilst versions 2007 and 2010 prefer you to customise the new navigation pane with your own categories and groups. Another way, though, is to create your own form based navigation system. This article describes how to create such a system.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2018-how-create-navigation-forms-in-microsoft-access.html

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

Creating Error Alerts In Excel Using Data Validation

2011-11-07T10:45:00.001Z

I have recently been getting in some late-season camping with my partner before putting my tent away for the winter. The light, balmy evenings of summer have been replaced by cooler, moonlit ones where darkness comes early, and the temperature drops considerably through the night, but we have some decent equipment and we were comfortable enough.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2021-creating-error-alerts-in-excel-using-data-validation.html

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

Is It Time For You To Trade Up To Excel 2010?

2011-11-07T10:36:00.001Z

Consumers in fast-moving retail sectors including fashion and consumer electronics welcome trade-in programmes, as they help offset the prohibitive expense of staying up-to-date with always-desirable new products with ever-shorter life spans, and often ensure that outdated items get reused or recycled. Trading-in gives us the opportunity to quickly and conveniently unlock the value of our old products, while instantly getting our hands on new, improved versions.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2023-is-it-time-you-trade-up-excel-2010.html

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

How To Ensure You Always Make A Complete Data Recovery

2011-11-07T10:21:00.001Z

Most of us have experienced that sinking feeling which comes by hitting the NO option when saving, or even saving the wrong version of a document instead of the one we need. Fortunately, most of these incidents are relatively inconsequential, representing only a few minutes of lost work or the deletion of unnecessary files. However, sometimes the cost of lost data is substantial. A recent study, for example, has estimated that a company that experiences a computer outage lasting for more than 10 days will never fully recover financially and that 50% of companies suffering such a predicament will be out of business within five years.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2025-how-ensure-you-always-make-complete-data-recovery.html

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

How To Make Your Audience Tune Into Your Presentation

2011-11-07T10:17:00.001Z

Music is often an afterthought when it comes to designing and delivering a PowerPoint presentation, and it's frequently used for nothing more than background noise. However, by giving some thought about how music is going to be used in your PowerPoint presentation, you can help create a number of benefits for you and your audience.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2028-how-make-your-audience-tune-into-your-presentation.html

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

Experience: A Vital Resource For Any Company

2011-11-07T10:11:00.001Z

There's not a company in the world that won't benefit from making the most of the resources available to it. What these resources are may vary between organisations - for instance, raw materials that need to be used efficiently or effectively - whilst there are certain resources that are common to all businesses, such as the time available for work. And, of course, there's the most important and most limiting resource of all, money, the one whose ups and downs dictate so much else that goes on in the company.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2010-experience-vital-resource-company.html

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

How SharePoint Can Lift Your Business Into The Cloud

2011-11-07T10:07:00.001Z

A London borough council discovered that the power of the cloud helped to combat overflowing rubbish, fly-tipping and graffiti - while saving everyone money. Members of the public who spotted a problem were encouraged to upload photographic evidence to a specially designated website. The council's environment department then provided an update, complete with new photos.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2026-how-sharepoint-can-lift-your-business-into-cloud.html

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

Find Out What's Happening On The Cartoon Network

2011-11-04T13:39:00.001Z

Cartoons were typically used in the production of frescoes on plaster or walls so that an artist could link different parts of a freeze created over several days. Today, we think of a cartoon as a short animation which is usually humorous and is designed to entertain. Although the term can be applied to any animated presentation, it most often features anthropomorphized animals and superheroes. However, the cartoon can create impactful messages in a way that still life can't in any PowerPoint presentation.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2029-find-out-what-is-happening-on-cartoon-network.html

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

How To Turn Demotivation Into Motivation

2011-11-01T10:31:00.001Z

It is a well established fact that a well motivated team works better than a demotivated one. With this in mind you should always monitor the motivational status of your team, and act accordingly on any shortfalls. If your team is performing adequately but there is room for improvement, you might look at ways of motivating them to perform even better. If your team is performing inadequately, however, you must find the cause of their demotivation and deal with it.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2022-how-turn-demotivation-into-motivation.html

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

Working With Word Means Your Organisation's Success Story Is Not A Fairy Tale

2011-11-01T10:19:00.001Z

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. Once upon a time, in a big building right in the centre of town, lived a business. The business was happy to have got as far as it had, holding off rivals and building a prosperous, upbeat world for itself. When storms would come, the business weathered them, and in bright sunshine, it made the best of the conditions. And when bandits and enemies attacked, it bravely defended itself and its home. As the years went by, the business grew strong and tall and came to be seen by some as a hero in those parts.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2012-working-with-word-means-your-organisations-success-story-is-not-fairy-tale.html

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

How To Make Sure You Keep Remote Control

2011-11-01T10:12:00.001Z

If you have to manage a team remotely, one of the most important things you need to do is to make the team roles and responsibilities clear. It is vital for team members to know exactly what is expected of them at work, and what they can expect from their roles if you are not always on the shop floor. Providing employees with clear job descriptions and a thorough induction to explain how your role will operate are both effective ways of doing this. And if team members take on new responsibilities as they progress and develop in their roles, their job descriptions should be updated to reflect these changes.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2030-how-make-sure-you-keep-remote-control.html

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

How Better Organisation Can Mean A Better Coordinated Business

2011-11-01T09:56:00.001Z

How often have you heard it said of an organisation that 'the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing'? It's common enough, for companies large or small: one individual, group or department isn't aware of something that's happening or needs to happen in another. And of course, those concerned don't intend for it to be that way, but they're too busy with their own work, don't have time to pay attention to anyone else's or tying the strings that connect them.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2008-how-better-organisation-can-mean-better-coordinated-business.html

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

The Three Es For Seamless Change Implementation

2011-11-01T09:40:00.001Z

Our history is littered with examples of people resisting change. There were those who stated with confidence that electric lighting would never supersede gas. Other diehards claimed that the automobile would never replace the horse as a mode of transport, and, in a famous incident known as the Decca audition, the Beatles, no less, were rejected by the Decca record company, the fab four being told that "guitar groups are on the way out" and "the Beatles have no future in show business". These no-hopers went on to become the biggest name in pop music, and they have sold some 80 million records to date.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2031-the-three-es-seamless-change-implementation.html

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

Sorting Names By Surname When They Are Ordered By First Name In Word

2011-11-01T09:26:00.001Z

Tom is creating a website about the history of his local football club. Among the famous wins and memorable goals that will appear there, he is compiling an A-Z of every player to have pulled on the shirt. There are hundreds of players on this list and he hopes that eventually he will write a brief biography of each one. The site would be set up so that when a user sought information about a specific player, they would simply click on the required letter of the alphabet to bring up every player whose surname starts with that letter and choose the one they seek from the list. Tom has entrusted his brother to type out a complete list of players for him.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2019-sorting-names-by-surname-if-ordered-by-first-name-in-word.html

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

Going Against The Grain With Multiple Radio Buttons In Excel

2011-10-17T09:11:00.000Z

Stan runs an online newsletter for a local group of games console football fans. They have just completed a knock-out cup tournament and Stan is entering the results in Excel. There were several penalty shoot-outs in the tournament, and Stan decides to display the outcomes of these using radio buttons; a filled button for a goal and an empty one for a miss. Of course, he soon comes across a problem.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1969-going-against-grain-with-multiple-radio-buttons-in-excel.html

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

How To Grow Your Business With The Power Of Social Networking

2011-10-17T09:06:00.000Z

As web-obsessed Britons, 72% of us spend an average of 16 minutes surfing our social networks while lying in bed, checking Facebook, Twitter and other social sites. The peak time for bed-based social networking is 9.45pm, with 18% of those online admitting to accessing Twitter at that time. Britons also spend an average of nine minutes per night sending text messages to friends and family. More than a quarter of us do our supermarket shop in bed, while 10% pay bills online from under the duvet.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1427-how-grow-your-business-with-power-social-networking.html

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

Office Looks Set To Keep Remote Working One Step Ahead

2011-10-14T20:30:00.000Z

Apparently we are on the brink of a new epidemic of emerging neologisms.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-920-office-looks-set-keep-remote-working-one-step-ahead.html

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

SQL Server, The Ideal Large Scale Data Solution For Your Business

2011-10-14T20:27:00.000Z

Dan is a fictional head of an IT department of a government body that's responsible for managing the licensing of vehicles and drivers. It's a huge organisation, working with millions of pieces of information concerning cars, vans, trucks and motorbikes - and the people that own and use them - all across the country. And Dan needs to ensure that any element of this vast array of electronic data is always available immediately for any part of the organisation to use.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1338-sql-server-ideal-large-scale-data-solution-your-business.html

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

Microsoft Project: What Are Dependencies?

2011-10-14T20:20:00.000Z

I remember many years ago, when I made the acquaintance of Microsoft Word for the very first time, being bamboozled by all of the icons and drop down menus on the screen. I thought I'd never get to grips with so many features and the sheer sight of those loaded toolbars was enough to intimidate me. Gradually, though, I persevered with my tuition and I learned what all of these icons meant, and what the drop down menus actually did. Now I am fairly proficient in the use of Word and I look back wondering why I felt so overawed at the outset. Having said that, however, there is an awful lot to this excellent application that I still have to learn.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1299-microsoft-project-what-are-dependencies.html

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

How SharePoint Can Have Your Business Sitting On Cloud Nine

2011-10-14T20:16:00.000Z

Clouds used to be seen as such negative things - just think of all those songs about leaving the clouds behind you, moving onto something better with a bright clear sky. Nobody liked clouds. They presaged misery and disappointment and, well, rain. Yet suddenly, clouds are exciting, they're the cutting edge of technology, they're a solution to countless IT problems and a boon to internet users everywhere, on all kinds of devices. Suddenly, clouds are nothing but silver lining.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1856-how-sharepoint-can-have-your-business-sitting-on-cloud-nine.html

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

Differences In Excel 2003, 2007 And 2010

2011-10-14T20:10:00.000Z

Despite it being the latest version, many offices haven't yet switched over to Office (and consequently Excel) 2010, either because they are budget-conscious and making the most out of the old versions before support for them is withdrawn, or they are aware that staff will need to be trained up in the new version due to the difference being marked from its predecessors.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1980-differences-in-excel-2003-2007-and-2010.html

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

How To Master Those Basic Financial Terms

2011-10-14T19:58:00.000Z

There are many creative spirits within the modern corporate world just as there are a large number of natural leaders and motivators. The ability to see things that nobody else can see, to 'think outside the box,' is a highly desirable tool and there is no question that business thrives on these visionary creatives and the incredible new products and methodologies that they bring to the world.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2004-how-master-those-basic-financial-terms.html

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

Poor Presentation And No Questions: Don't Fall For A Bad Trainer!

2011-10-14T19:51:00.000Z

So you have swallowed your pride, acknowledged that you need help in a particular area and booked a place on a computer training course for a specific product or software program.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2005-poor-presentation-and-no-questions-dont-fall-bad-trainer!.html

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

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together: Taking The Time To Construct A Proper Project Plan

2011-10-14T19:42:00.000Z

Congratulations, you have just been appointed to your first project management role and you are feeling empowered and confident. You are chomping at the bit to get going, to prove to those superiors who put their faith in you that you are a bright, dynamic individual who can achieve even more than they expected you could. You have no desire to be cooped up in an office trawling through data or planning projections or strategies and, what is more, neither do your team who are enthusiastic and back you all the way.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2006-construct-proper-project-plan.html

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

A Place Of Trust: How Microsoft Have Made Access 2010 Even More Secure

2011-10-14T19:16:00.000Z

The computing revolution has given us so many positive developments from the ability to communicate with people on the other side of the world with the click of a mouse to storing a near infinite amount of data either online or within a highly sophisticated digital database.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-2007-how-microsoft-have-made-access-2010-even-more-secure.html

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

Maintain Your PowerPoint Photo's Impact With Semi-Transparent Text

2011-10-10T20:26:00.000Z

Many years ago, before I'd ever typed a single character on a computer, I produced a sporadically released fanzine that was aimed at promoting the local music scene. It was a crude monochrome production that was printed on standard A4 paper. With its barely decipherable photos and marker pen headlines, it never did take its place in the newsagent alongside similar, more glossy music magazines. But it served a purpose and I enjoyed working on it.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1972-maintain-your-powerpoint-photos-impact-with-semitransparent-text.html

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

Organisational Skills: Now Versus Orwell's Day

2011-10-10T20:22:00.000Z

I recently read an essay by George Orwell (1903-1950), in which he illustrates the life of a book reviewer in the years immediately following the Second World War. It makes interesting reading if, for no other reason, the opening paragraphs give us a snapshot of how immensely difficult it must have been to maintain any system of organisation in the pre-computer age.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1977-organisational-skills-now-versus-orwells-day.html

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

Creating And Importing Custom Lists In AutoFill

2011-10-10T20:20:00.000Z

Excel has some excellent automatic features that save a lot of time and effort for the user. For the data entry user, AutoComplete saves thousands of keystrokes by predicting the current entry. This is extremely useful when entering names and addresses from a certain geographical area, where the same towns and cities are entered repeatedly. To enter Newcastle upon Tyne simply by typing the first two letters is an example of the enormous amount of assistance this feature offers.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1970-creating-and-importing-custom-lists-in-autofill.html

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

Scheduling A Project In The Correct Order

2011-10-10T20:18:00.000Z

Sometimes things have to be done in a certain order because that's what works best. The film director who shouts "Action, Camera, Lights" would have a flop on his hands, and the pupil on a driving test who understood MSM to mean manoeuvre, signal, mirror would find himself resitting his test at a later date.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1978-scheduling-project-in-correct-order.html

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

Project Management: Working Within Parameters

2011-10-10T20:16:00.000Z

As we live our daily lives, we constantly come across parameters we must stay within. Anyone who wishes to partake of an alcoholic drink in a public house must do so within the parameters of the current licensing laws. Similarly, if someone pays for a transaction using a debit card, then they must stay within the parameters of their agreed overdraft or a charge will be issued.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1979-project-management-working-within-parameters.html

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

Knowing Your Way Around Expenses

2011-10-10T20:11:00.000Z

Expenses used to have a good reputation, as a legitimate way to compensate staff and managers for any out-of-pocket expenses they incur (as we all do) in the course of our day to day jobs.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1984-knowing-your-way-around-expenses.html

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

Differences Between Gantt Chart And Network Diagram View In Project 2007

2011-10-10T20:06:00.000Z

Whether you're a new or experienced Project 2007 user you'll no doubt be accustomed to using the Gantt Chart view which shows tasks organised in linked relationships on a calendar type display. However did you know that the Network Diagram View offers an equally informative view of the project plan but from a different perspective. This article describes the key features of the Network Diagram View compared to the Gantt Chart View.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1950-differences-gantt-chart-network-diagram-view--project-2007.html

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

Differences Between Gantt Chart And Network Diagram View In Project 2007

2011-10-10T20:02:00.000Z

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1950-differences-gantt-chart-network-diagram-view--project-2007.html

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

Have You Microsoft Office Compatibility Issues?

2011-10-10T19:59:00.000Z

Many Office users use Office 2003 as well as Office 2007/2010 and sometimes it is important to understand how compatibility issues can affect application files if they are used in different Office versions. The article summarises the key differences and describes several compatibility issues.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1951-have-you-microsoft-office-compatibility-issues.html

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

A Brief Guide To The Project Options Panel In Project 2010

2011-10-10T19:55:00.000Z

Whether you're a new or experienced Microsoft Project user, you'll find that Project 2010 is very different compared to previous versions in many ways. And sooner or later you'll need to view or change the Options settings. This article guides you through each option category and describes the main categories in each.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1952-brief-guide-project-options-panel-project-2010.html

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

What Are PST Files Used For In Outlook 2010?

2011-10-10T19:51:00.000Z

Whether you're a new or experienced Outlook 2010 user, you'll have used some kind of data file in which Outlook stores all your work. If you use Outlook without linking to an Exchange Server then Outlook creates and updates a PST data file on your computer.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1954-what-are-pst-files-used-in-outlook-2010.html

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

Find Out Where Outlook 2010 Stores The PST Data File

2011-10-10T19:33:00.000Z

Have you ever wondered where the PST file is located in Outlook 2010? In this article we'll describes where Outlook 2010 stores this data file, how to easily find this location and should you need to, how to add additional PST files.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1955-find-out-where-outlook-2010-stores-pst-data-file.html

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

How To Use The New Windows Explorer In Windows 7

2011-10-10T18:59:00.000Z

The new Windows Explorer in Windows 7 has a new icon, introduces you to libraries and folders and lets you search for file by name all within the same pane. This article summarises the main features and describes how to use them.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1956-how-use-new-windows-explorer-in-windows-7.html

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

What You Need To Know About LOOKUP Functions In Excel 2007/2010

2011-10-10T18:57:00.000Z

Lookup functions allow you to extract data from an Excel table and use the resulting values somewhere else in Excel. However there are quite a variety of LOOKUP functions available and it's not always easy to decide which function to use. This article summarises the main LOOKUP functions available and describes how they are used.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1958-what-you-need-know-about-lookup-functions-in-excel-2007-2010.html

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

How To Sort And Filter A Table In Access 2010

2011-10-10T18:54:00.000Z

Once you've created a database in Access 2010 you'll have realised there are powerful ways to sort and filter table date using queries. But did you know you can sort and filter a table from the normal table view without needing to design a query. This article explains how to do this.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1959-sort-and-filter-table-in-access-2010.html

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

Some Interesting Finds In Excel 2007/2010 Using Find And Select

2011-10-10T18:51:00.000Z

Have you ever used the Find and Select command in Excel 2007/2010? Then you'll have found that you can find cell contents such as text or formula, and you can replace one value for another if you wish. But did you know there are some other hidden gems available here too. This article summarises how to use Find and Replace and then looks at two other very useful features, Find and Replace formatting, and Go to Special.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1960-some-interesting-finds-in-excel-2007-2010-find-and-select.html

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

Discover How To Use Fill In Excel

2011-10-10T18:49:00.000Z

If you've used Excel for some time you may have discovered the Fill feature. You can use fill to copy and paste a formula over a range of cells, create a series of values depending on the cell contents, create a series of values from a built in list, or create your own custom list to Fill. This article describes how the Fill feature can be used in Excel in different ways.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1961-how-use-fill-in-excel.html

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

How To Use The New Navigation Form In Access 2010

2011-10-10T18:45:00.000Z

You can create a Navigation Form in Access to let the database user choose to display a form or report without needing to use the navigation pane or open the objects directly. This article describes how to create a simple Navigation Form and also describes how to set this form to display when the database is opened or viewed as a web database.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1962-how-use-new-navigation-form-in-access-2010.html

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

How To Create Your Own Access 2007/2010 Navigation Pane

2011-10-10T18:43:00.000Z

Access 2007/2010 has a brand new Navigation Pane which you can customise to suit your own database. Although it's a completely new feature compared to previous Access versions, this pane can be easily customised with your own content to enable you to create your own clickable navigation system. This article describes how you can do this.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1963-how-create-your-own-access-2007-2010-navigation-pane.html

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

Combining Logical Functions In Excel

2011-10-10T18:41:00.000Z

If you've used Excel for some time, you'll realise there are different logical functions such as IF, AND and OR. This article describes how these functions can be combined to perform very useful composite logical operations.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1965-combining-logical-functions-in-excel.html

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

Don't Get Lost In A Sea Of Data, Use Excel Navigation

2011-10-10T18:36:00.000Z

It's a sad fact that 59% of 1,000 US and UK middle managers say that they frequently miss important information every day because they just can't find the data within their own company. And that an astounding 15% of all paper handled in businesses is lost, with employees using 30% of their day trying to find misplaced documents.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1989-dont-get-lost-in-sea-data-use-excel-navigation.html

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

The Best Way To Use Clip Art Images In Excel

2011-10-10T18:34:00.000Z

Sometimes it's not just about numbers and targets. At a recent industry conference delegates were presented with facts and figures showing the positive trend of fewer accidents occurring within their sector. Next year's target was to reduce the figure even more.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1990-the-best-way-use-clip-art-images-in-excel.html

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

Use Split Form View In Access For Simultaneous Views

2011-10-05T11:30:00.000Z

A problem has arisen down at Billy's DVD rental store. When new members filled out their application forms to join, supplying their date of birth was optional. This was fine in most cases, but for those hovering below the 18 years-old mark, confusion arose as to whether or not they were allowed to hire films that were 18 certificate. He had refused to serve a member in a school uniform with an 18 certificate film, and the lad had become quite vociferous in his protest.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1968-use-split-form-view-in-access-simultaneous-views.html

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

Are You Ready To Let The Cloud Lift Your Business?

2011-10-05T11:28:00.000Z

For anyone thinking about entrusting their IT infrastructure and business applications to the cloud, the questions of security is going to be paramount. Of course you need to be completely satisfied that the new cloud set-up is resilient and secure, but it's not just about productivity: You need to be assured that compliance with data protection is addressed, that traceability is seamless and that there are disaster recovery processes in place. Microsoft's global network of high-spec data centres are being marketed as conforming to stringent international standards to address all of these criteria â' and more.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1992-are-you-ready-let-cloud-lift-your-business.html

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

Perfect Persuasion: A Positive Influence On A Successful Business

2011-10-03T11:23:00.000Z

During an unsuccessful challenge for the Republican nomination in the 1968 US Presidential Election - both contests eventually being won by Richard Nixon - Michigan Governor George Romney spoke of the influence the military had had on forming his opinion of the Vietnam War. He claimed that he'd been 'brainwashed' into believing hawkish views on the conflict which he later found to be untrue - a claim to which Democratic candidate Eugene McCarthy retorted, 'Brainwashed? I'd have thought a light rinse would have sufficed'.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1945-perfect-persuasion-postive-influence-on-successful-business.html

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

How To Use The Quick Access Toolbar In Office 2007/2010

2011-10-03T11:19:00.000Z

All the Office 2007/2010 applications have the new Quick Access Toolbar located above the tabs in the ribbon navigator. This article describes how you can easily customise this toolbar by adding your own favourite commands to the toolbar. In this way you can have a set of commands at your fingertips which you can apply with just one mouse click.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1953-how-use-quick-access-toolbar-in-office-2007-2010.html

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

How To Use The Page Layout Features In Excel 2007 And Excel 2010

2011-10-03T11:17:00.000Z

Excel 2007/2010 has many very useful features including working with data, lists and charts, but equally important are the Page Layout features which help you organize Excel to created printed results. This article describes how to use the Page Layout tab and Page Layout views to create effective results.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1964-how-use-page-layout-features-in-excel-2007-and-excel-2010.html

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

To Delegate Or Not? That Is The Question

2011-10-03T11:14:00.000Z

As a manager you know that a good way to demonstrate your suitability for the job is to delegate tasks to others. This ensures that you apply maximum effort to the project, and it shows your own manager that you are on the ball when it comes to spreading out the workload. But any tasks that come in should be considered carefully before being delegated

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1966-to-delegate-or-not-that-is-question.html

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

Create Date Sensitive Colour Changing Cells In Excel

2011-10-03T11:12:00.000Z

Billy has bought a job lot of used DVDs to set up a movie rental business. Instead of renumbering the entire batch of discs and cases, which were ex-rentals, he has used their existing numbers, but he applied Excel's Ensure Unique Values function to avoid duplicating any numbers. He knows his stock, and has unique references so that he can keep track of them. So far, so good for Billy.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1967-create-date-sensitive-colour-changing-cells-in-excel.html

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

Liaise Closely With The Chair For Effective Minute Taking

2011-10-03T11:09:00.000Z

Two key elements of efficient minute taking are good preparation and close liaison with the Chair. The former ensures an accurate record of the meeting, while the latter regulates the level of discussion being recorded.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1973-liaise-closely-with-chair-effective-minute-taking.html

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

Positional Bargaining: The Soft Or Hard Approach?

2011-10-03T11:07:00.000Z

I am always on the lookout for things that might prompt an idea for an article, and television shows are as rich a source as any. We can glean an insight into how certain management skills are used by watching them in action on the small screen. For example, Dragons' Den is the place to witness hard-nosed negotiating skills over sums of money that run into the tens of thousands of pounds, and Grand Designs shows us project management in action, including delays and unexpected problems, and their remedy.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1975-positional-bargaining-soft-or-hard-approach.html

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

Choosing A Training Style To Suit You

2011-10-03T11:05:00.000Z

Staff training used to mean either someone coming to your workplace, giving a presentation and leaving, or for you to travel as a group to a training venue, to have the same presentation, and then leave.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1982-choosing-training-style-suit-you.html

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

How To Really Work Those Apps With Office

2011-10-03T10:58:00.000Z

It's official: The Internet is well and truly going mobile. In the final quarter of last year, more smartphones than PCs were purchased and marketers can expect anything between 12% and 20% of searches in their sector to originate on a mobile device. If you own a smartphone, you've got the world at your fingertips. And now that the Windows Phone comes with mobile versions of all your favourite Office apps, you can work anywhere at any time.

The full article appears here:
http://www.microsofttraining.net/article-1993-how-really-work-those-apps-with-office.html

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

Office Applications: A Star Turn From Each

2011-09-30T10:21:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:48:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:43:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:40:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:38:00.000Z

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?

2011-09-27T09:36:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:34:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:32:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:30:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:27:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:25:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:17:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:15:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:13:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:11:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:08:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:06:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:04:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T09:02:00.000Z

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

2011-09-27T08:48:00.000Z

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

2011-09-21T20:05:00.000Z

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

2011-09-18T19:25:00.000Z

"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

2011-09-13T13:50:00.000Z

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?

2011-09-12T12:41:00.000Z

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

2011-09-12T12:39:00.000Z

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