If you’ve ever spent anytime copying and pasting text data into Word tables or trying to get data out of tables and into a simple list in a document, these tips might make you grumble a little. The good news is you’ll never have to do that again!
Question: “I manage a group of four women who bicker constantly. They are quick to “cop an attitude” and get defensive about stupid little things. To make it worse, I recently hired a young, inexperienced secretary who is very rude. When anyone tries to instruct her, she comes back with a smart-mouth response. I feel like I’m supervising a bunch of tattling two-year-olds. I wish they would all just shut up, get along and focus on work. Sometimes, I plan what I’m going to say about these issues, then I chicken out. I know I need a stronger backbone, but I’m not the type of manager who likes dealing with conflict. What should I do?” — Tired Supervisor
Question: “On her performance review, my sister ‘Jenna’ was rated ‘below expectations’ because her boss said she took too long to complete a major project. However, this really wasn’t her fault … I don’t think this is fair, because many things are beyond her control and she gets little cooperation from others. What do you think?”
Avoid anything that could diminish your professional image. If an executive wouldn’t do it, you shouldn’t either. For example: An executive would never produce a company newsletter that contains recipes.
It’s become a reality-show catchphrase: “I’m not here to make friends.” The implication is that to win, you can’t afford to treat people generously. Will you go further by being cutthroat or collaborative? Let’s look at the data:
When a long-winded colleague parks in your workstation and launches into a monologue, resist the urge to respond in any way, even with a simple “uh-huh.” Every utterance gives the talker reason to continue.
Workplace noise is a pet peeve for one in five employees, and it can even damage productivity. But is it a peeve worth escalating to human resources? Most HR workers would say that employees should resolve the noisy co-worker issue on their own.
When dealing with papers, Only Handle It Once (OHIO). If you find yourself picking up the same paper, examine why you’re delaying action.
The demand for highly skilled assistants has increased the past several years, as shareholders and customers demand greater access to executives. Among the most desired: assistants with tech savvy and “demonstrated longevity.” In other words, admins who have built over time a strong working relationship with their executive bosses.
Don’t undermine your message by apologizing for your stance or using unnecessarily soft tones. When you’re submissive, you show a lack of self respect.
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