Grow Confidence and Empowerment with Administrative Leadership

IAAP has been on the forefront of busting the myth that admins are not (or should not be) leaders. For several years, we’ve been prioritizing leadership development for our members and volunteers.?

In fact, our immediate past CEO, Veronica Cochran, coined the phrase, “Lead Up,” to remind us we don’t need a title or a corner office to lead. Leadership is one of our four strategic goals; that’s how critical we know it is to the future of this profession.??

How you leverage leadership competencies can help you build and gain confidence in your own capabilities, but even more importantly, they can transform the workplace dynamic. When others see you leading from a position of support, you begin to challenge the ideology that leadership only exists in positions of power and authority.?

?Quite the contrary, if you look around the world today, you might find leadership competencies rarely exist in positions of power and authority.?

Leadership Among Administrative Professionals?

It can sound lofty and a bit far-fetched to think admins can have such a profound impact on business simply by demonstrating leadership qualities. It helps to look at it from a more granular level. Consider your own view of leadership.?

Often, and especially for admins, the first barrier to embodying leadership is your own paradigm of leadership. You may have chosen this profession specifically because it is not a leadership role. Maybe you prefer to be the behind-the-scenes executor. And that’s fine. It’s more than fine; it’s great.??

Exceptional admins know how to get things done backstage. They also know how to help make their leader or leadership team ready for the spotlight. Where we’ve gone wrong here is assuming leadership only exists out on that stage.?

Sure, there are different levels and layers of responsibility. But? using leadership competencies in your administrative capacity means you’ll be accessible to those you support in a deeper, more meaningful way. And I promise there are hundreds of opportunities for you to showcase your talents in the spotlight rather than always orchestrating backstage.?

There are probably opportunities for you to share the spotlight with those whom you support, and they might just be thrilled to have a partner with them out on that stage.?

Two Leadership Skills Administrative Professionals Should Grow??

So, what are the most important leadership competencies you’ll need and how do you get them? The answers are quite simple and right at your fingertips.?

IAAP has a leadership matrix filled with leadership competencies which are 100% transferable to any workplace; you can find it on the Lead page of our website. BelowHere are a few examples of leadership competencies you should be exploring now:?

• Leadership Skill #1: Ability to think strategically and critically.?

Everyone is capable of strategic and critical thought. Sometimes administrative roles get boxed into process and repetitive thinking, and often admins find themselves living inside that box because they just don’t know how to challenge it or break out of it.?

Start small. You can begin by looking at one small task you perform frequently and asking yourself questions like: How does this task connect to my executive’s monthly goals? How does this task connect to their long-term goals? To the company’s goals??

?The more you begin questioning why you do what you do, the more you’ll find strategic and critical thinking becomes part of your routine.??

• Leadership Skill #2: Defines desired change and demonstrates nimbleness to adapt quickly and positively to change.?

Simply put: become an agent of change. Being able to approach change with enthusiasm, adaptability, and vision is truly a game changer.?

If you struggle with change, the first thing you’ll need is time to examine your thought patterns and begin to introduce new language about and around change.?

IAAP is looking ahead at what’s to come for this profession, and if we want to create a dynamic and robust administrative workforce that solidifies our place and stake in the future of business, we’ll need an infusion of leadership throughout the profession.?

You are the intersection of our future- focused strategic priority and how we execute it. I challenge you to lead with us.?