Tips for when the boss is away

As the spring and summer holiday season is right around the corner, here are some top tips to keep you in control while your manager is away for some much-needed rest

Sometimes the boss being on holiday can actually help you get things done and do your job better. However, out of sight is rarely out of mind for a PA when it comes to his or her exec. While some workers see their manager being out of the office as an opportunity to slow the pace, secretaries and personal assistants need to be as on the ball as ever.

Modern communication technology has meant that there is often no let-up in workload. Emails, texts and calls keep coming through, with some managers preferring to have regular video calls with their assistants via Skype or Google+.

Since many of your bosses are already planning their holiday, here are some top tips to keep you in control whether the boss’s trip is business or pleasure:
•Create a complete schedule of his or her movements while they are away, including time zones – no-one likes a call at three in the morning.
•Communicate to co-workers that the boss is away and prepare to be inundated with requests from them in his place.
•Use your time wisely. If you find that you have a little more time on your hands, don’t let it go to waste.
•Be prepared to receive communications at unusual times of the day, as your boss thinks of things at the end of the day, between meetings, or outside working hours.
•Use Skype or similar internet-based communications to reduce costs while keeping your manager informed about what’s happening.
•Don’t overdo the updates, your boss will need to focus on the purpose of their trip, whether they’re working or not.