(Excerpt from Become an Inner Circle Assistant book, Joan Burge)
For the first time in history, the administrative professional’s job description hints at the full engagement of cognitive powers. When the job description includes identifying goals for the coming year; meshing them with your executive’s goals and department and organization goals; being prepared to track progress at specific intervals; and being accountable for success or lack thereof, it’s easy to tell this is not a job for dummies!
You’re not a puppet, and someone else is not pulling the strings. You’re in charge. You have power. And if you’re to attain the inner circle assistant spot and maintain it, your intellect plays a large part in your success. So if the best career advice you’ve received so far is to dress for success, get ready to think bigger. And “think” is the operating word.
I am talking subtle power; not “walk-all-over-everyone” kind of power. As an administrative or executive assistant, your power will come from your brilliance! It comes from your thinking and fully engaging all your senses every day throughout the day. This is no easy feat but you can do it. Here are a few tips: [Read more…]
My good friend and fellow expert in the administrative field, Julie Perrine, has a saying that goes something like this, “In admin, you can start here and go anywhere!”
Incidentally, if you don’t know Julie, you should. She’ll be at the annual Conference for Administrative Excellence this year and she is an absolute wealth of knowledge and insight.
But back to the point: Being an administrative professional, the world is your oyster. This is a career that can, should you desire, be a fantastic stepping stone into a wide variety of other careers.
Here at Office Dynamics, we focus a lot on those who have chosen administration as their career path. It’s a noble, exciting, ever-evolving world that can be incredibly fulfilling and lucrative. However, it’s not for everyone.
Some people may find that it’s not a good fit. Others may enjoy it for a period of time, but eventually feel called to other fields. [Read more…]
Administrative professionals are the superheroes of travel planning. Admins use their telepathy to know what brands their travelers prefer, time travel to get days of work done in mere hours, and teleportation to support their travelers, even when they are halfway around the world.
Their only kryptonite? Themselves. Admins spend their days prioritizing other’s needs and often forget to think of themselves. Then, when it’s finally time to take a day off and relax, or travel for business, they’re starting from scratch and the planning process suddenly feels more stressful than ever! The checklist below is split up into different sections of the trip: booking, planning, packing, and flying! Use the checklist to help organize your travel planning superpowers so you can feel the joy of a stress free trip.
Calling all admins: celebrate admin day and treat yourself! [Read more…]
There is no great month than April to talk about the power assistants create when they work together. In April, we honor administrative around the world for one full week. What does that tell you about the importance of the role?
For more than two decades I have been teaching assistants about the benefits of working together. While I often hear about the challenges and issues assistants have with their peers, assistants can find strength in community and unity. [Read more…]
As a career-minded assistant, it’s easy to get to a place where you wonder, “Where do I go from here?”
Advancing as an assistant can take many different forms. For some, it involves climbing to the next level, becoming a “senior” support staff member or an administrative manager. For others, it means moving into a support position for a higher-level executive, assisting a CEO or CFO for example.
Regardless of what path you’re on, if you’re interested in moving up the ladder as an assistant, there are several strategies to better position yourself for success. These tips will help demonstrate your higher-level abilities and support your bid for promotion when the time comes.
Master the Fundamentals
As Joan says, “You have to master the fundamentals!” You can’t expect to move up if you aren’t already fully and completely (even exceptionally) competent with the basic duties and responsibilities of the role. If you’re still struggling with time management, organization, professional presence, and communication, focus on amplifying your skills in these key areas.
There’s no substitution for mastery. Proficiency isn’t enough. Become an expert in everything you do. [Read more…]
