I came across an article I had been interviewed for last May. It appeared in the admin advisor. Since many of you probably never saw this article, I want to share the top reasons for bad communications between executives (or supervisors) and assistants. As you read them, please think about your own situation. What might be creating a barrier between you and your manager or executive? And what can you do about it? This is the year to make changes and improve your relationship with your key business partner.

1. Executives don't know that the administrative assistant's role has changed in the last 30 years!
2. As a result (of #1), executives aren't sure what they can ask their administrative assistant to do.
3. Managers are sometimes timid about starting a conversation with their assistants because their communication skills are poor. They much rather deal with figures and facts, business cases and business models.
4. Some execs have been burnt by inexperienced or in-over-their heads assistants who let them down on something big.
5. The executive doesn't pay attention to his/her assistant's skills and doesn't have a clue about her character traits, especially her business aptitude.
6. Some simply don't have an interest in developing their assistant's potential.
7. Many feel overwhelmed and frantic about the pile of work on their desks.
8. Technology is to blame for some of the gap between executives and assistants. Email and BlackBerrys allow the exec to ignore his/her assistant and keep the assistant out of the loop.