Tech Tips & Tales from The MS Office Maestro

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Tales from The Maestro

Some weeks test your resilience more than others. For me, this one has been about managing back pain, physio sessions and preparing for a nerve root block injection later today. I’m writing this newsletter on Tuesday because tomorrow, when I’d usually be at my desk, I’ll be resting up.

It’s a reminder that productivity isn’t about doing everything; it’s about doing what matters most, with the right support. That’s why I love tools like Microsoft 365 and Copilot; they help us focus on what really counts, even when life gets complicated.

Speaking of making life easier, here’s what I’ve been working on recently…

Training Spotlight

Last week, I delivered a webinar on ChatGPT vs Copilot, a topic that always sparks great discussion! One of the key takeaways was this: while ChatGPT is a fantastic general-purpose AI tool, Copilot is deeply integrated into Microsoft 365, which means it understands your documents, emails and calendars in context.

For admin professionals, this is a game-changer. Imagine drafting a polished email, summarising a meeting, or creating a presentation, all without leaving Outlook, Word, or PowerPoint. Copilot doesn’t just save time; it transforms the way you work by reducing repetitive tasks and freeing you up for higher-value activities.

Have you tried Copilot yet? If so, what’s the one feature you’d love to master? Hit reply and let me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Copilot Prompt of the Week

"Draft a professional summary of this document in 150 words, highlighting the key points and action items.”

Why it Works

This prompt is powerful because it gives Copilot clear instructions:
✔ What to do – draft a summary
✔ How long – 150 words
✔ What to include – key points and action items

By being specific, you get a concise, actionable summary that saves you time and ensures nothing important is missed. Perfect for turning lengthy reports into quick updates for your executive or team.

Bonus Tip:​
Once Copilot creates the summary, you can follow up with:

“Rewrite this summary in a friendly tone for an email update.”

This instantly transforms a formal summary into something conversational and ready to send.

Microsoft 365 Tip of the Week

Use Styles in Word for Consistent Formatting

When drafting documents, applying Styles (like Heading 1, Heading 2, Normal) instead of manually formatting text saves time and ensures consistency.

Here’s why it matters:

✔️Styles make your document look professional with just one click.
✔️They allow you to generate an automatic Table of Contents in seconds.
✔️Copilot works best with well-structured documents. Using Styles helps it understand your content and produce better summaries or rewrites.

Story

I recently worked with an admin who spent 30 minutes manually formatting a 10-page report. Once she switched to Styles, the same task took less than 5 minutes and Copilot could then create a perfect executive summary in seconds.

Keyboard Shortcut of the Week

Apply Styles Quickly in Word​ Instead of clicking through menus, use this shortcut: Alt + Ctrl + Shift + S This opens the Styles pane, so you can apply or modify styles instantly. Pair this with your new habit of using Styles and you’ll format documents faster and make Copilot even smarter when summarising or rewriting your content.

Did you know?

I was recently asked where a list of all the courses I offer can be found. So, I thought it would be useful to signpost them. You can find them all here

​www.msofficemaestro.com

Coming Up

Start 2026 with confidence! The next cohort of Microsoft 365 Fundamentals with AI and Copilot kicks off in January and enrolment is now open.

This 4-session live course is designed for busy professionals who want to:

✔ Master the essentials of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams​
✔ Learn how to use Copilot to save time and boost productivity
✔ Gain practical, hands-on skills you can apply immediately in your role

Course Schedule:

📅 January 6, 13, 20, and 27​
🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM GMT

Each session is interactive, packed with real-world examples and includes replays so you can learn at your own pace.

Special for Newsletter Subscribers:

You get an extra £27 off the Early Bird price with this exclusive link:

👉 Click here to enrol with your discount

Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out. Imagine starting the year with smarter workflows and less stress!

Here is what Joann said at the end of the Cohort One!

The VA Virtuoso Summit - November 5th to 7th

For my VAs and Freelancer Subscribers - I have joined up with Virtual Assistant Virtuosos Summit from Tawyna Sutherland.

The #VAVS Virtuoso Summit takes place over three days November 5th to November 5th.

You can get your Free Pass here VAVAS Summit Free Pass

If you’re ready to find more clients, keep them longer, and build a business that runs smoothly (without the burnout), you’ll want to check this out…

👉 The Virtual Assistant Virtuosos Summit (#VAVS) is back for its 25th Season, happening November 5–7, 2025 — and it’s completely FREE to attend live!

Hosted by Tawnya Sutherland, founder of the Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA), this milestone event brings together 25+ experts sharing their best strategies for finding and retaining dream clients.

I’ve also contributed a special bonus to the #VAVS Swag Bag— it’s packed with resources designed to help you grow your business faster. Check out my Swag PowerPoint Masterclass for Assistants - The Replay.

You’ll get access to it (plus over $4,500 worth of other goodies!) when you grab your VIP Pass.

Free to Attend — or Go VIP for the Full Experience:

1. 1-Year Access to All 29 Recordings — rewatch anytime
2. #VAVS VIP Success Journal to turn ideas into action
3. Speaker Slide Notes (PDFs) for easy reference
4. Tawnya’s Summit Notes — her personal “aha” moments
5. Audio Versions of Each Session for learning on the go
6. 3 Months Inside the VANA Community for support & networking
7. $4,000+ Swag Bag of Bonuses 🎁 — courses, trainings, and tools galore

Quote of the week

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