| What would happen if the personal assistants in | | | | quit her job came directly after she visited her |
| your organisation were away for a week? How | | | | doctor. She had developed a lump on her breast. |
| would it affect the running of your business or | | | | Fortunately, it wasn't breast cancer, it had formed |
| department? How would it affect | | | | due to her stress levels! |
| you
personally? | | | | Tips for the Boss |
| If you are fortunate to have a personal assistant | | | | Treat your p.a. with respect |
| whom you heavily rely on to assist you, in most | | | | Ask them how they are each day |
| instances you would find yourself run ragged if | | | | Invest in their personal and professional |
| they were absent for longer than a day. | | | | development. |
| This week I spoke with two clients who were in | | | | Listen to them |
| the situation where their p.a.'s had been on holiday | | | | Say 'thank you' |
| and these clients' lives were super-stressed as a | | | | Realise that your p.a. has a life outside of work |
| result. Although they had other people in their | | | | and needs time out just like you do |
| organisation helping out, it wasn't the same as | | | | Be flexible - many p.a.'s have a family to care for, |
| having an assistant who knows you very well and | | | | if you are flexible they will be extremely loyal and |
| can get things done without you having to even | | | | work even harder |
| ask. | | | | Understand that when you give them tasks to |
| If you are fortunate to have a great p.a. then I | | | | do, although you many have taken 2 minutes to |
| hope you appreciate and look after them. Often | | | | discuss with them, it could take them 2 days, |
| they are undervalued, yet are the key people | | | | particularly with the many interruptions they have |
| who keep the wheels turning in your organisation. | | | | to deal with. |
| I know there are many p.a.'s out there who love | | | | Keep your p.a. in the loop. Organise a regular time |
| what they do and have great bosses, however | | | | each day to 'catch up'. |
| there are heaps of others who don't. | | | | Share your successes with them. |
| These women (and there is the odd male p.a.) do | | | | Tips for the P.A. |
| their utmost best , start early, stay in at | | | | Look after your health and fitness first. You'll feel |
| lunchtime, work late and yet are undervalued, | | | | good, look good and be more confident. NEVER |
| unappreciated and underpaid. | | | | SACRIFICE YOUR HEALTH AND FITNESS |
| Marion's Story | | | | BECAUSE OF YOUR WORKLOAD. |
| Marion is a hardworking, reliable and competent | | | | Avoid the martyr syndrome. Ensure you take |
| p.a. She had worked for the same company for 8 | | | | time out at lunchtime and get out of the office. |
| years. That's a long time in today's work | | | | The place will survive without you. |
| environment. I bumped into Marion this week, | | | | If the workload is too much, let the boss know. |
| when she attended a presentation I gave for the | | | | It's no point whinging to everyone else and doing |
| Victorian Office Professionals, a network for p.a.'s. | | | | nothing about it. |
| I asked her if she was still at the same company | | | | If saying 'no' is hard for you, then do an |
| and this is what she said
"I was beginning to | | | | assertiveness course. |
| tire of my job. My recent boss was not easy to | | | | When communicating with a male boss, get to |
| get on with. He was quite uncommunicative and | | | | the point. |
| did not fill me in on issues that affected my work | | | | Join a professional association for office |
| for him. Information was only forthcoming if I | | | | professionals. Share ideas and resources. |
| prompted for it. Then I had to guess the right | | | | Develop your skills, attend courses and seminars |
| questions to ask. He never made me feel | | | | and read books to help you grow. Remember the |
| accepted or supported. It made it really difficult to | | | | more valuable you are, the better person you |
| come to work. I arrived at work one morning | | | | become and the more you can earn. |
| recently, and he informed me that my services | | | | The Final Word |
| were no longer required. Within two hours I had | | | | For many managers and business owners, having |
| packed up my belongings, said goodbye to several | | | | a good p.a. helps them to leverage their time and |
| close associates and drove home in a state of | | | | enables them to focus on what they need to be |
| shock
and that's what I got for all the hard | | | | working on. When you find the right person, treat |
| work, extra hours and loyalty." | | | | them like gold, do not take them for granted. If |
| Helen's Story | | | | you look after them, they will look after you and |
| Helen started her own business. What motivated | | | | make your working life so much more |
| her to take such a brave step? Her last position | | | | manageable. |
| as a p.a. was extremely stressful, mainly due to | | | | When you look after your people, they will look |
| the person she worked for. Helen told me that | | | | after you
just make sure you never forget |
| every Sunday afternoon around 4.00 p.m. she felt | | | | that! |
| a dark shadow cast over her as she began to | | | | Have a great week! |
| think about the forthcoming week. Her decision to | | | | |