Let's Get Physical

I’m talking to you!  Look me in the eye when we’re talking and not down at your Smartphone or your IPad, or your Kindle or whatever device you are using.  If I see your eyes, then I know we are really making contact and you are interested in what I am saying. 

When we are introduced or I meet you outside of work, shake my hand as though you are glad to see me.  A physical handshake identifies me as a real live human being whom you acknowledge.    That’s one of those ‘feel good’ things in life that I look forward to receiving every once in a while.

Oh my gosh, can you not turn up the ends of your mouth and smile?  Yes, a smile is very important.  It means you are happy to be wherever we are at the time.  It means you seem to be happy to see me which is also important from a business relationship and a human relationship. 

Speak directly to me.  Not to the side of my neck.  Not over my shoulder.  Not to the ground.  Turn your head so it sits in the middle of your neck and speak.  Words will come directly to my face and thus, I will hear them.  We should then have an interesting conversation no matter how short.  Make your words audible and informative.  Not just a “Hello” and “Goodbye.”  Take lessons to learn how to carry on an actual conversation which is a give and take of words.  Don’t speak to me in shortcut Smartphone or IPad symbols.  I need honest to goodness words in order to reply correctly and keep the conversation going. 

Once these rituals are established, it will be to your benefit and mine.  We will be able to share information and pleasantries in this new way.  We may be able to perhaps open a new door to  communication and sometime in the future accomplish something terrific together. 

I challenge you to put some effort into our next meeting.  It may surprise you to know that I am worth these efforts.

Admins: Respect Yourself!

As administrative assistants, we're the behind-the-scenes. We're often overworked, underpaid, treated badly, and even forgotten. People think it’s easy. People think we're stupid. We spend half of our careers trying to prove them wrong.  In reality, a lot of that struggle is our own.

You are support staff, but that doesn't mean you should come second in your career. Remember, your boss may be your job, but you have a job for yourself. If your boss leaves, you still have to have your career.

Balance. Work and personal life. It’s necessary. And you’re allowed to have it.  I say it all the time, "But they need me! But they’re overworked too!" I’m guilty of working a lot, but when I take the weekend or a vacation day, I’ve earned it and I don’t feel guilty about taking time for myself.  If you constantly work overtime, people are going to constantly give you overtime. They will keep piling on until they’ve crushed you.  To be happy and healthy, you need to take care of yourself.  Earning respect in your career starts with respecting yourself.  

Education. It doesn’t matter how much experience you have. Without education, you’re going to get stale. Your boss has to keep up on education.  Teachers, nurses, accountants, lawyers are all required to have continuing education.  Administrative assistant is no less of a career.  By pursuing further education, you are showing your bosses that you want to be better.

Professional organizations. I just renewed my IAAP membership for the first time.  In the past year, I’ve used my membership to chair a committee and join another. I’ve attended monthly meetings.  I’ve been able to add my two cents at board meetings. I’ve built a network of admins. I’ve coordinated volunteer events. I gathered donations for our annual activity. I helped start a blog.  I wrote an article for the newsletter.  I dabbled in social media marketing.  I’m studying to become a Certified Administrative Professional. You get what you put into it.  Being active in IAAP has made it valuable.

I have more respect for my career. It’s not just a job to me, it’s a career. I don’t talk about IAAP all the time with my bosses.  Just little things like “Oh I have a board meeting tonight” or asking them to pay for my chapter meetings (receiving an award from the chapter didn’t hurt either), but now they ask me about it. They’re proud to see it.  It shows my dedication to my position and they treat me with a greater level of professionalism.  I no longer feel like I’m being thought of as the inexperienced recent grad who is just working in this job until she finds something better. I respect my position and I am treated with greater respect too.

The difference between being an Administrative Assistant and JUST an administrative assistant is your own dedication to treating it as your career.  When you take responsibility, stand up for yourself, and work to learn and make your career grow, you will excel in your job and earn the respect that this profession deserves.  

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