An assistant, by definition is subordinate, holds an auxiliary position and is one that assists, a helper. To earn this position, you must conduct yourself effectively.
Instructions
be an Effective Assistant
1. If an employer hires an assistant, it is because she is too busy to coordinate and control all of her duties and needs help. The first and most important duty is to realize you are the assistant, not the boss, you can steer the car, but you don’t own it and if the owner wants to turn right, you turn right even if you know a faster way.Once you understand your role, the position becomes much easier although the tasks become complex. An effective assistant will be a master at the calendar, keeping track of appointments, knowing what to schedule and when. You must think logically, if your boss needs to meet a client and the meeting is halfway between the office and her home, schedule the appointment on the way in or out of the office. If she has a difficult client coming in, give her more time between appointments.
2. Files needed for meetings should be pulled in advance and any forms that will be needed should be filled out as much as possible. These files and forms should be organized by you so that anyone can find what they are looking for whether or not you are in the office.
3. Be available in between meetings, do the work that takes the bulk of your attention while your boss is in meetings. You need to remember always that your primary function is to assist your boss. You can’t do that if you are at one end of the office and she is at the other.
4. An effective assistant will stay late if necessary to assist in completing a project. If your boss needs you to run personal errands, as long as you knew that would be a request prior to accepting the position, be prepared to handle these errands. If, on the other hand, you didn’t know what the job entailed and you don’t want that aspect of the job, be prepared to leave your job. As an assistant, you are subordinate to the boss. You will never get the glory, and you will always do the work that she doesn’t want to do.
5. It may not sound fair, but you are an adult and, as such, if you feel it isn’t fair, this job isn’t for you. It is for someone who enjoys organizing, structuring another person’s calendar, and helping a boss be the most effective she can be. You want her to shine without concern for your own advancement.
