Message #584

[countrigal]

Welcome!



I agree with everyone above... it sounds like you just reassurance that you should listen to your heart.  Do it, you know you can.



As for being an Executive Assistant... in my experience that's really no more than being an assistant (admin type) for anyone.  You're more center stage, so errors are more noticeable, but if they're offering it to you then they think you have the knowledge, skills, and experience you'll need, or the ability to learn them quickly.



Depending on what roles you've been fulfilling in your current position, you might already have been practicing proactiveness.  I do this in my job as Program Specialist, though it's not readily noticeable.  Do you wait for something to go wrong to fix it or are you noticing things that need to be done, things that will improve thecompany, reading and interpreting what you read and how it'll affect your company?  If so, or any one of numerous other examples, then you're being proactive and the change, though not easy, won't be impossible to make.



As for your co-worker... if you don't think she'd take the position, the chances are that she won't mind if you become the new manager.  If you do find yourself her new manager, I would suggest you schedule and appt to meet with her soon after filling the position and giving her a chance to voice her concerns.  If you do it in such a way as to assure her that you are going to need her experience and knowledge in her position, making he feel valuable in her role, then you will minimize the possible negative feelings she might have over your promotion.  If you haven't had any classes on management, I would suggest getting a book on management (college textbooks, though dry, are helpful here) and read up on management styles, handling workplace cultures, and human resources.  A basic business class covers these issues and gives a quick, broad look at them which gives th mostfor the least (most material for least amount of time involved).



Good luck, and defiitely let us know what you decide.