Category: Personal Development
Gaslighting is not just an uncomfortable workplace experience—it’s a psychological stressor that directly affects how your brain functions. For administrative professionals, who often sit close to power and information, understanding gaslighting is critical for both personal wellbeing and professional survival. I learned this the hard way. In 2012, I raised serious concerns about repeated psychological […]
Having influence means selling yourself every day. Assistants can exert influence to be effective in their own jobs, to manage their careers, and to support their bosses and organization. To have the career you want, selling yourself is an important and ongoing process. If you are exerting influence, you are selling; and for someone to […]
Every workplace needs more Yay-sayers, the people who seek solutions, encourage collaboration, and promote realistic optimism even during challenging times. Yay-sayers exist at every level of an organization, from the C-suite to the front line. They help teams thrive through change, communicate with clarity, and create cultures built on trust and accountability. The Case for […]
Marsha Egan, workplace productivity and business coach, reminds us that choosing not to take things personally is an act of strength, not weakness. Working in executive support is not for the faint of heart. You are the one holding everything together—managing calendars, coordinating communication, and navigating multiple personalities, all while keeping operations running smoothly. When […]
At work and in life, motivation matters. For some, it comes from a paycheck, a to-do list, deadlines, or the expectations of others. For others, it comes from something deeper: a sense of purpose, a mission, or a vision. The first type of motivation works in the short term but is rarely sustainable. Burnout, dissatisfaction, […]
What if calm wasn’t a reaction, but a choice? “You can’t calm the storm, so stop trying,” writes Timber Hawkeye, author of Buddhist Boot Camp. “What you can do is calm yourself. The storm will pass.” Simple words, but not always simple to practice. Calm isn’t about pretending nothing is wrong or detaching from reality. […]
Creativity is often misunderstood as a talent reserved for artists, writers, or musicians. In reality, it lives in all of us. It’s not just about painting a masterpiece or writing a catchy song, creativity drives innovation, problem-solving, and even the small decisions we make every day. Whether you’re brainstorming at work, troubleshooting a challenge, or […]
If you want to step up as an Assistant and make decisions that truly support your manager, business acumen is essential. Without it, you’ll struggle to move beyond task execution into becoming a strategic partner. At its core, business acumen means understanding how your organization operates, what drives decisions, and how your manager’s goals connect […]
Ever feel like balancing work and life is an impossible dream? Here’s a little secret: Sometimes, you just have to let go. We live in a world where we’re constantly pushed to “do it all,” squeezing 20 hours of work into an eight-hour day. It’s not just unrealistic; it’s downright harmful to our well-being. A […]
Quick, think back to July 2010. Where were you living? Were you studying or working? What dreams did you have? How would you describe the July 2010 version of yourself? You’ve changed a lot since then, haven’t you? The world has changed, too. Things we take for granted like Instagram and Zoom didn’t exist in […]