From the course: Administrative Professional Tips

Confidant and advisor

From the course: Administrative Professional Tips

Confidant and advisor

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- Do you consider yourself to be a good listener? Can you help your executive work through some of the daily challenges that they face? Are you the only person in the office that your boss can confide in on particular situations? If so, you are exercising some of the most valuable skills you have as an administrative support professional, serving as a confidant and advisor. This is an area that I love because it allows me to utilize some of the skills that I'm the strongest in such as listening, coaching, supporting, and strategizing. If these are the types of attributes you would like to strengthen or gain in your current work situation, there are a number of actions you can take to be a source of strength and leadership when your executive needs this the most. First, develop a strong relationship of trust with the person or people you support. Make sure they can count on you and that you safeguard the information and time. As they see your loyalty to them and your desire to protect the reputation of their position, they will more than likely begin to count on you when they need a listening ear and someone to share their ideas with. If you find this not to be the case with someone you have been supporting for a significant period of time, it might be worth having a discussion as to how you can be more of a support in this area. Next, ensure you are as calm as possible in periods of stress and chaos. Being so will give you a better chance of focusing on your response to the situation at hand. If you are panicked, your reasoning and logic will be quickly lost. Remaining calm will allow you to more easily plan and think strategically. My boss really appreciates this quality in me and she's a fairly calm person herself. We can navigate stressful situations pretty well together. In the case where her anxiety may be high, I take the lead in this area by keeping her office as steady as possible, not adding to the drama, and keeping the traffic flow light. The less people who need to have access to her sometimes makes things go more smoothly. This way, she can have a moment to think and talk it out with me as she makes decisions. Finally, remain as nonjudgmental as possible when situations arise or things are shared with you. When you are nonjudgmental, you remain in a neutral position where you are neither positive nor negative towards what you were being told. This is important for the person who is leaning on you at that moment. This stance allows for more understanding and acceptance on your part that your boss would truly appreciate. Honing in on this skill will make your identity as a confidant and advisor that much more evident. I am grateful that as administrator support professionals, we have the opportunity to share in so many diverse roles for the people that we support. Confidant and advisor carry a heavy responsibility and one that is not to be taken lightly. Through this position, we have the ability to really make a difference and put our best skills to the test.

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