Joan Burge's Administrative Blog

Thank you for following this series on advancing your administrative career. I hope you have enjoyed it so far. If you want to go back and review the topics we have covered so far, they are: 1.    Expand Your Job 2.    Befriend Your Supervisor 3.    Build Trust – Patiently 4.    Network Extensively Now for the final and most important technique!

Do you long to be a better communicator? I’m sure we all would like to enhance our communication abilities. At least I hope we are all trying to do so.  I was recently asked by one of our readers if we had any resources for becoming a better conversationalist as well as resources on more effective communications.

In a recent revamp of materials here at the office the question came up, do we use the term BlackBerry’s or BlackBerries … how exactly do we pluralize a BlackBerry?

My husband just brought me an article he received, E-mail Overload Costs Companies Billions in Lost Productivity. It reminded me of something I've been speaking on with passion for about 18 months. It is something that is at the core of my being from many perspectives: as a business owner, a vendor to clients, a client to vendors, and someone who loves and hates e-mail. E-mail has grown into a big white elephant and we are being stampeded by it. The good news is that every one of us can reduce the number of e-mails we send.

In the administrative profession, success is based not just on what you know, but often on who you know. So to advance your career, strive to embrace this best practice. Create a vast network of acquaintances and advocates with whom you enjoy doing business, have done favors for, know well – or know remotely, via others.

How many times have you heard this one? To be a successful assistant, you have to build trust with your supervisor. Fine and well. But how do you actually build trust? (In a way, it’s like asking how to herd cats or nail Jell-O to a tree!)

Welcome back to The Joan Burge Blog! If you have been following us this week you know we are talking about five proven ways to advance your administrative career. Yesterday we covered the first method, Expand Your Job. My next recommendation may seem like a no-brainer – but you wouldn’t believe how many assistants I’ve coached who’ve never taken advantage of this simple success rule: Become friends with the person (or people) you support.

Want to start advancing your professional stature and career potential right now, at this very moment? Then do this:

Are you letting your talents shine? If I were to ask your manager to tell me your top 3 strengths or your innate abilities, what would they say? A manager sees your "surface" performance, but what is beneath the surface that may never be revealed because:

Hello! I’m back with another blog series for you. This week I am sharing with you five proven ways to advance your administrative career. I look forward to sharing these tips with you throughout the week and hope you come back each day and contribute your thoughts as well.