7 Skills That Administrative Assistants Need to Succeed…

Administrative assistants are a foundational part of any workplace, helping others to succeed in the job. The skills needed to manage administrative tasks take practice and development. As with any profession, there is always room for improvement and if you want to remain the office hero that everyone knows and loves, you need to know how to continuously develop your skills. The following are a few tips to help you identify the skills you need to succeed as an administrative assistant… 

Organization

Organization is important in the workplace, especially for assistants who work in office settings. Administrative assistants often manage many tasks and pieces of information at the same time. Administrative assistants who directly support an executive should be able to maintain their calendar as well. Many administrative assistants also handle a file management system, either physically or on a computer, and should be adept at storing and retrieving files. Examples of organizational skills include planning, delegation and office management.

Technology

You have only just learned the shortcuts for one program when another is thrust on you , and it’s back to square one. Love it or hate it, technology is always changing and managers and executives rely on their assistants to be tech-savvy. Many online administrative assistant courses are affordable and sometimes even free online. Set a goal to participate in one online courses or webinar on the latest technology each month and keep yourself up all new technology.

Time Management

Time management is the ability to be punctual and to schedule your time such that you can complete all assigned tasks. Administrative assistants typically have full to-do lists and must be able to effectively manage their time to finish their duties by a set deadline. Those with strong time-management skills are punctual, meet deadlines, readjust priorities when unforeseen issues arise, and plan their days for productivity. If you are struggling to meet your projects on time, it may be time to make some changes. Sometimes all you need to identify the lost time is to spend a week or so tracking where your time is really going and making the necessary corrections.

Communication

Communication is a much-needed skill in almost any field. These skills include everything from composing emails to writing social media posts for a company. Strong written communication skills improve the quality of office correspondence and can be especially helpful when you need to draft letters, speeches or memos for an executive. One poorly worded email of missed phone message can compromise your reputation. Your communication skills need to be phenomenal.

Business Etiquette

Your personal brand matters, from the clothes you wear to the way you interact with clients and deal with different personality types. That is not to say there is never a time to crack a smile but your business etiquette should be high on your list of skills to develop as an administrative assistant. Understanding how to act in a variety of business situations will allow you to rise through the ranks.

Problem-solving

When schedules change or new challenges arise, the ability to problem-solve is invaluable. A busy administrative assistant is likely to encounter unexpected obstacles. If they can think quickly, be flexible and think creatively, they can solve problems with ease. A good problem-solver is also open to asking for help and collaborating with team members to overcome challenges. Discussion, compromise and resilience are invaluable parts of problem-solving.

Company Culture Ambassador 

Administrative assistants come into contact with everyone at the office and and become the default ambassador for a company attitudes and culture. Most administrative assistants are in direct contact with the executives of the company so it’s implied that the company executives approve for your attitude. One way to keep everyone in good spirits is with good catering and work get togethers. Corporate catering is great for company culture and shows that management is providing an employee-centric company culture. Eating and drinking together is a big part of the human experience, and it’s been an important part of building a community for centuries. Great coffee and smoothies are a great way to break up the day and help everybody realize we are all human being working for a common goal. People are freer with their ideas when they’re not in a conference room! 

Please keep Valet Coffee in mind when you are planning your next party or other type event! 

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