In Celebration of Administrative Professionals: 5 Quick Tips for Continued Success

Happy Administrative Professionals Week, everyone! ??

Whether you identify as a secretary, administrative assistant, executive assistant, personal assistant, receptionist, administrative coordinator, management assistant, or something in between, my hope is that on this week, and every week, you go about your work with a knowing that what you do adds so much value.

Since I couldn’t give all of you a gift card, a lush and lovely flower arrangement, or take you out for a sumptuous lunch, here are a few special tips to carry with you - shared from the perspective of someone who has walked in your shoes and has intimate knowledge of the challenges you face.

Tip 1 – Remove the Word “Just” For Your Vocabulary

“Oh, but I’m just an admin”.?

Admit it…you’ve said it to yourself and, maybe, to others.?

And I get it – when you’re rearranging seating charts and place cards for a meeting that’s been rescheduled more times than you can count, someone is hassling you about incorrect information on a calendar invite or not getting the right size pens and printer paper in this month’s supply order, it’s so easy for that four-letter-word to creep in.

But, here’s the thing…

The word “just” puts you in a box that you don’t belong in - one that discredits, limits, and indicates an inability to see the fullness of your actual value.?When you don’t see your own value, you’re setting yourself up to allow others to do the same…or worse.

Simply put - ain’t nobody got time for that!

Let’s be clear - there is no “just” in someone that takes the time to both understand the strategic demands of the key leader being served while also tending to the needs of the office as a whole, making sure that all of the right people are in the room for important business conversations and strategy sessions that lead to forward movement on mission objectives, and, essentially being the unspoken but well-understood morale leader and tone setter for your office - the heartbeat that truly makes everything go.?

Tip 2 – Tend to Your Look and Your Sound

Now, am I talking about having a sharp outfit in the office and speaking with the kind of voice that has people saying “Man, you should be doing voiceovers”?

Though nice to have…naah.

To truly succeed as an administrative professional, much more is required. At a minimum, both a customer-driven presence and a voice that communicates confidence, capability, and a true willingness to offer support – no matter the challenge at hand – are two “must haves”.?

So, let’s keep it real, here.?When people approach you, are you warm, inviting, and ready to serve??Or have you gotten to a point where everything and everyone is getting on your nerves because of their constant questions and needs? Could it be possible that overwhelm is beginning to set in and wear you and your professionalism down?

Additionally, though you might genuinely love your job, might the words that you speak in your day-to-day work life sometimes ?betray what you actually feel or desire??Have you ever received feedback describing you as unapproachable, difficult to work with, or not a team player?

If you’ve fallen into any of these categories, consider three things:

• Review your Organization Strategies – What can you put in place now to help you stay on top of tasks and put yourself in position to meet new and unexpected demands and maintain the level of flexibility, grace, and poise that your position requires?
• Get to the Root of What’s Really Eating At You – Might there be some additional professional or personal challenges that have gone unaddressed??Is there an opportunity for you to get some new skills or mindsets to help you deal with that challenging colleague or superior??Is it time to consider seeking outside help – either through coaching, counseling, or a combination of both – to help you either maintain or regain a position of trust and respect in your organization and change perceptions that might be setting in?
• Clarify Your “Why” for Being There – Knowing that there is no work utopia where we get every thing we want all of the time, what is your “why” for going to work every day??What is the thing motivating you to do what you do and show up fully??What is it that you are believing in and for as you conduct business??

Having a strong “why” in your mind every day can you help you center yourself and maintain a position of responding to and meeting challenges vice reacting to them and, if nothing else, serve as motivation to help you hold your tongue and fix your face for the greater good. ??

Tip 3 – Grow Your Service Delivery Capability

As offices reimagine the world of work, for administrative professionals, this is a prime opportunity to create a niche for yourself, grow your value, and up-level your own “service delivery capability”.?

From supporting the design and execution of telework policies that help people authentically create what “work-life balance” will look like for them, to getting smart on remote work platforms that enhance efficiency and connectedness, and creating other innovations and advancements that help your organization become the “employer of choice”, the more time you spend investing in the enhancement of your knowledge base?– to benefit both yourself and your organization – the better!

To help you along this path, here are a few great resources to review:

• Harvard Business Review article – What Executive Assistants Know About Managing Up
• Harvard Business Review video – The Secret Weapon of Great Leaders: An Interview with Melba Duncan
• Chief Executive article – How Exceptional Executive Assistants are Keeping CEOs Thriving in This Crisis
• McKinsey and Company blog – An Executive Assistant on Adapting to Change and Embracing Professional Help for Her Mental Health
• Forbes article – The Ultimate Assistant Academy:?Inside the Elite Training Program for America’s Top Executive Assistants

Tip 4 – Consider Your Influences

Who are the people that you look up in your office or Department??Might they be willing to mentor or coach you, have you “shadow” them on the job, or even take on a rotational or stretch assignment to help you amp up your skills?

From personal experience (which is actually captured in the photo supporting this post!), I can tell you that there is nothing quite like having a supportive Senior executive that allows you to grow and stretch beyond your current role, mentors that embody the technical skills sets and professional polish you want to embrace and grow into, and a coach that serves as that guide on the side, helping you breath life into and take committed action toward transforming the vision you have for yourself into your daily, lived experience!

Pro Tip:?If your company or organization offers any kind of mentoring, coaching, or leadership development opportunities, take full advantage of them. I am a living witness to the power of all of them.??

Tip 5 – Remember that What You Do Now is Setting the Stage for Your Next

When you think of women like Ursula Burns and Carly Fiorina, what do you think??

Fun fact:?Long before they were CEOs, they, too, were assistants!

What that indicates to me is this: ?who they eventually became were the direct result of the habits and practices first formed in their earlier years and enhanced over time.

What might that mean for you?

As the Bible says, do not despise the humble beginnings.?When we commit ourselves to doing all things well – even the things we may not want to do, think aren’t really all that glamourous or noteworthy – we’re truly setting the stage for our next.?

And, get this? The people you’re getting coffee, typing memos, and planning teambuilding events for today could turn into some of your biggest advocates, champions, business partners and so much more.

So, if nothing else, commit yourself to approaching each day with gratitude and an expectation of something wonderful occurring as a result.?You never know what wonderful, amazing, knock-your-socks-off opportunity might be on the other side…??

In closing, I hope you have a wonderful weekend.?Treat yourself to an amazing dinner and a night out either with yourself or those you love most.?Get plenty of rest.?And let’s get after it next week, with the full knowing of your value and importance at the forefront of your mind.?

Warmly,

Tiffany (A Grateful Former Executive Assistant)