Office professionals are an amazing lot!  You cope with every office crisis that walks in the door; you turn yourself inside out to accommodate others and you make the most dreary of days into something pleasant for those who come in seeking information, appointments or support. Yet when it comes to getting your needs met...?  How much effort do you place in letting others know what you need and like?  At a recent workshop in South West Queensland, we took a brief look at being authentic in your role and your personal life.

The New Year begs for an opportunity to start afresh! Those dastardly New Year's resolutions are our call to action to reinvent ourselves by being slimmer, healthier, smarter, funnier, wiser or happier than last year. Consumer trends are pointing to 2010 being the (unofficial) year for reinvention of work. New ways of doing old tasks and reinventing jobs are the order of the day. Opportunities abound for getting out there and turning things on their head. This month Office Class engages in a little 'reinvention' time so you can make the most of those already honed skills, talents and ideas. Read on to make January the start of your path to 2010 success!

Assertion is one of those skills that most of us need to practice in order to feel comfortable using it everyday.  Assertiveness training is a great place to start to learn more about yourself and how you naturally respond to everyday situations.  Like many of the communication skills used every day, assertiveness comes more easily to those who were encouraged to be assertive in their own family and had this behaviour rewarded.  For the rest of us, we have a bit more practice ahead!