From the course: Administrative Professional Tips

Managing sideways

From the course: Administrative Professional Tips

Managing sideways

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- Do you find yourself needing to direct team members on your peer level, although they do not report to you? How do you use your influence to motivate these members in certain situations? Administrative support professionals are constantly called upon to manage the outcomes of situations and the people who impact them without necessarily having the formal authority to do so. I refer to this as managing sideways. And mastering this skill will help you gain control of the systems you work within. Here are some key approaches to keep in mind when managing sideways. First, act with confidence. This puts people at ease and they feel more comfortable with someone who is in control. Confidence is less about portraying someone with all the answers and more about having a good knowledge base. Second, establish relationships with everyone that you work with, which includes those above, below and to the right and left. By doing this, you invest in people who you, more than likely, will need to call upon one day. Additionally, it creates a more harmonious teamwork environment within the office. Third, educate yourself on different departments and functions within your organization. Normally, I function within a smaller sphere on a daily basis. When I have to reach outside of that area, I start by learning more about the entire organization. This helps me to do my job at a higher level because I can now see things from a broader perspective. This, in turn, makes me more valuable to the person that I primarily support because I can make more informed decisions that includes this perspective. Finally, recognize others' strengths. The more we know about each other's strong points, we can encourage them to use their talent for the good of the entire organization. Oftentimes, in my daily tasks, I need to rely on a subject matter expert. By knowing who that expert is in a certain area, I can call upon that person or bring them to my boss' attention for special assignments. This is not just a win for me personally but also a great opportunity for that person and benefits the organization as a whole. Using this managing sideways approach can be instrumental in your day-to-day work life. You will gain insight into how your organization and colleagues work together as a whole and this, in turn, will strengthen the overall harmony of your professional environment.

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