Overcome challenges faced by PAs

Today’s business climate is highly challenging and constantly evolving and management assistants need to be on top of things to ensure they can face any challenge confidently and with authority. Here are some valuable pointers on steps you can take to prepare for all kinds of workplace situations.

Be braced for change With so many different developments to the forefront, change is inevitable and how you deal with it is an excellent indicator of your ability to perform under stressful conditions. When you encounter change, you need to be ready to show willing and be flexible in order to demonstrate that you are a person on whom management can rely.

Learn how to manage your workload effectively PAs have to be able to prioritise their work and meet deadlines with good grace, while at the same time communicating to others how valuable their contribution actually is. In short, make sure you have clear and simple communication procedures in place and implement a good communication strategy.

Master your management of time Administrative professionals are consummate multi-taskers, as they need to get so much done at once. Getting time management under control is a constant challenge, but it can be achieved by cultivating an awareness of your environment and identifying what habits you need to change in order to become more efficient.

Face up to dealing with difficult people There will always be people within the workplace who are not easy to deal with and, more than other office workers, EAs are often the ones who have to deal with them. Rather than being confrontational, work on coming across as empathetic; listen to the other person’s point of view even if you don’t agree with it and acknowledge their take on any given situation.

Remember – communication is crucial Invest time in deciding which approach will work best when you’re communicating with your boss. Filter out unnecessary information and deliver a concise and relevant summary of any business updates of which he or she needs to be aware.

Aim to develop excellent working relationships Strive to build up a rapport with those whom you work with closely – not just your executive, but also his or her direct reports, the company’s board members, other EAs and so on. Doing so will help you to get access to various sources of information that will make your job easier, as it will enable you to keep on top of any pertinent developments.

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