What are the 3 things that you like about our profession?

I think all administrative professionals will agree with the fact that we are great jugglers and multi-taskers. We have a huge range of skills, and you know what you are good at so embrace them. We are empathetic and we are authentic. But I am not talking about the general skills that we all have.
The best part of this profession is that I know my strengths and superpowers and I am confident to bring value not just to my team but to the entire organization. I am cognizant of my executive’s time, business processes as well as client needs. This profession has given me a chance to experience the opportunity to influence, develop courage and live with confidence!
I am responsible to support others so that they can be successful! I am efficient in making everything easy and simple for all the executives that I support. I can assist my executives and the team so that they can shine while standing behind the podium but still feel proud of what we have accomplished together.
I am also an information hub! Everyone in the business relies on me as they know I have resources and knowledge that they can tap into. I enjoy helping others achieve their goals!
Other perks of this profession are that I meet all kinds of different people and clients. I get to attend events and conferences which gives me the opportunity to network and build my brand and our business’s brand stronger.

I have the opportunity to make a positive impact everyday.

What is the most important part of my workday?

Every day is a fun day! I am happy to say that there is never a dull moment. I get the opportunity to learn something new every day, be it for professional or personal growth. My main priority is to be the best at what I love to do and that is to be the strategic partner to the executives that I support and manage the rhythm of the business just like an orchestra leader. Be a leader assistant! My goal is to have executives think of me as a trusted partner. I am an operator who makes sure that all the wheels are turning.
I am very fortunate to work at National Bank Independent Network and grateful to the executive team as they have empowered me and supported me in my professional and personal growth. I get the opportunity to be a great collaborator, a mentor as well as an effective communicator.

My message to new professional assistants globally

I am often asked, “What is the secret to being an outstanding assistant?” There is no one big secret that will make you a successful assistant; there is no single thing that you can do to be a star. It is a collection of things you do and how you do them. It’s a very tall order but you can do it.

Being an administrative professional does not mean that you need to handle everything yourself but there are a few things that I have learned in my 20+ years of this amazing profession that I would like to share.
I refer to them as my guiding principles. Here they are:

• Master your craft
• Stay calm – while things add up and seem overwhelming, take a deep breath and step back to see the big picture!
• Be scared but be prepared! Be confident and collaborate
• Build self-trust
• Respect limits but defy limitations
• Listen – This is probably one of the strongest skills you can employ. When you listen attentively, you won’t miss the details.
• Create processes that work and stay with you until something better comes along.
• Practice, practice, practice
• Focus and work efficiently
• Get the right people and systems in place
• And the most important thing is to take care of yourself. Maintain a healthy balance between your professional and personal life

Finally, I have followed one simple and easy formula all along and would like to leave you with this advice and encouragement, “Dreams + Hard Work = Success”.