As one of my recent Star Achievement students wrote me. . . “Too many administrative assistants at our organization believe that their title defines who they are.” Executives have also brought this to my attention over the past few years. They say, “Just because your title is Executive Assistant, it does not mean you are portraying the qualities and competencies of what is required in that role.”
Do not let your title go to your head and prevent you from learning and growing. Whether you are the Executive Assistant to the CEO or Senior Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Marketing, how you act will define who you are as a person and how others will view you. People notice your actions and your speech or even your lack of action. If there is a situation occurring that needs to be handled and you shy away from it or divert it when you should be involved, what does that say about you? Our values and work ethics also say something about us. Everything about you defines who you are which affects how people perceive you.
Titles are great and they help us understand the “pecking” order in an organization. I believe you should fight for titles that define your level within the administrative profession and within your organization. I firmly believe, too, that no one should act like the queen bee.