Are you successful? What does that even mean? I remember when I posted on Twitter and Facebook that I was a finalist in the Executive PA magazine/Hays PA of the Year awards, I felt successful. My goal was to be as successful as I could be in my career, so surely this was success? This was recognition of all my work via a major award. But that feeling was dampened somewhat by a few responses I had. โPAs have awards? But all you do is make tea and answer phones.โ These responses all came from people outside our profession; people who have no understanding of what it means to be a personal or executive assistant. All of a sudden I was left feeling quite deflated. Perhaps this wasnโt really the big deal I thought it was. After all, Iโm just a PA.
I began to play down the award. I didnโt want people to think this PA was getting ideas above her station. I laughed along with a few of the jokes. Even made a few jokes myself in a sort of โif you canโt beat them, join themโ way. I had to give myself a really good talking to and recognise that just because a few people didnโt realise the importance of my role and our profession, it didnโt mean it wasnโt important and it didnโt mean my success wasnโt real.
Itโs so easy in a job like ours to underestimate the work we do, why we do it and to view what we do as successful. What I have realised though is that it is not about how others interpret our success, but how we as individuals, and the ones who actually do the job, define it.
When you finish that project youโve worked on for six months with no training and support (because, of course, we automatically know how to do everything thrown our way), picked up new skills, made new contacts and built your reputation โ that is success. Got through the day without killing your boss, or that awkward colleague who insists on throwing a spanner in the works every day? That is success. If you are sitting at your desk and feeling like you are just a PA, take a look at all the things you manage to get done in one day, one week, one month and beyond. That is success.
It takes a certain type of person to become a management assistant. That person needs to be ambitious, a people person, a problem solver, a leader and so much more besides. That person is not just a typist, a tea maker or a dogsbody. Not โjust a PAโ. Itโs important that we never forget that.
I have recently found myself writing down all the little tasks, jobs and projects I am proud of. When Iโve overcome a certain challenge, I write it down. So that when someone comes along and tries to down-play my role as a PA I can be confident in the fact that every single day I am successful in what I do.
When something goes wrong and I do the inevitable of beating myself up, I look back at my little book of successes and remember, โOh yeah, I am good at this. I do this job well. I am successful.โ
I have come to realise that it is not up to anyone else to define my success. It is 100% up to me. I am the one who does my job and thatโs why I set myself goals and objectives (outside of the ones set by my line manager, of course). Itโs from these personal objectives that I am able to identify and define my success. How do you define yours?
Winner of the Executive PA magazine/Hays PA of the Year 2013 award, Leeanne is passionate about the PA profession. She currently works in the charity sector and is always looking for ways to ensure PAs have the courage to make the best of themselves and their profession. Find her on Twitter @specialee or on LinkedIn at tinyurl.com/q5nlokj
