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peaches2160
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« on: November 16, 2010, 10:37:29 am » |
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Just wondering how many of you are sensitive to how people refer to you.
I am an Executive Assistant, and all that entails. I consider myself an Administrative Professional. I take my job seriously and at this point in my career, I am not using this as a stepping stone. I enjoy my work. Also, as many of you are aware, have recently gone through change with bosses. I know you can't compare old to new. That is a major "no no". However, I prefer to be referred to as an Assistant, not "my admin" or "the admin". How do you ,
handle correcting people when they refer to you in such a manner? I want to be respectful and professional to new boss and new colleagues, but want to get the point across as well.
Your recommendations ...........
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gee4
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« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2010, 03:26:37 pm » |
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Well my boss refers to me as his Secretary and although that is what I am, the job title is very old and job description is out of date.
I know you have gone through big changes recently so it may take a while for you and your new boss to adjust and get to know one another. Perhaps at the moment he doesn't feel you are his "assistant" even though you are fulfilling that role. Some individuals are not that personal and I have had this problem in previous jobs.
Basically I've ignored it. If my boss or my line manager cannot refer to me appropriately, that is their problem. I wouldn't worry about it too much at the minute Peaches, you could be rocking the boat, and it may not come across very well at this early stage. Can I ask how you refer to your boss? Do you call him by name, do you refer to him as your boss, or do you call him the Director of X dept, Manager etc when on the phone or speaking to others about him? Are you both getting on ok generally?
Sometimes you have to accept you cannot change individuals and how they see us. Maybe this person doesn't feel the need for an assistant or require such personal attention. I'm not that personal with my boss, our relationship is strictly professional and I think we both like it that way. It seems to work well for us anyway.
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msmarieh
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« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2010, 04:06:17 pm » |
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Personally, it's not a big deal to me either way.
However, in your case, I'd say it depends. Have you told him you prefer to be called his assistant as you feel like it sounds more professional and respectful of your title? If not, I would start with that.
If you have, and he continues to introduce you as the admin, then you need to have a conversation with him about that, as it is disrespectful.
Good luck.
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JessW
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« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2010, 06:07:31 pm » |
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 Peaches Tell him he gets more 'bang for his bucks' with an assistant who can work with him and for him and to his benefit, rather than his 'use of the Admin'! Perhaps add in that bosses have Assistants, whereas the workers have admin support! This is not meant as a slur on admins (I do my fair share of that even now and even enjoy it on occasion), but he seems to be the sort of boss who quite likes the hierarchy of being a boss (beginning of a big head? perhaps!) Otherwise, put a sign on your desk saying "Assistant to ..." and another one say "for admin support, please walk this way" with an arrow pointing away from your desk! Just my first thoughts on it. Either way, be good to yourself!
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gee4
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« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2010, 06:29:36 pm » |
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Good points Jess.
Peaches, one other thing I noticed when I started with my company, there was no standard email signature and this bugged the life out of me.
Sending an email with "Cheers Jo" isn't professional and doesn't work for a newbie like me....who is Jo, are you male or female, which department do you work in, what is your second name?
Thankfully after our reshuffle last year we were given guidelines to create a new email signature. Do you have this in your place of work? I think this is important and shows others who you work for...
Jo Bloggs
Assistant to John Smith
Managing Director
If you don't have something set up as standard, why not suggest something to your boss?
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peaches2160
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« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2010, 10:47:15 am » |
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Thanks for the input. I guess I am being a bit too "touchy" at this point. I do have the email signature and have it as
Executive Assistant to John Doe,
Vice President, XXXXXXXX
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Newbie
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« Reply #6 on: November 17, 2010, 12:33:12 pm » |
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Hi all Just to lighten the mood... You might remember that I recently had a change of title to be 'Personal Assistant'. Well, I've recently had to politely pont out to one Executive that I work with that referring to me in his emails as 'Personal Ass.' was probably not great for his reputation - or mine!!!  |
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gee4
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« Reply #7 on: November 17, 2010, 01:43:06 pm » |
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Oh dear, how embarrassing! |
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forfrom
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« Reply #8 on: November 17, 2010, 02:36:50 pm » |
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Interesting topic... my official title is 'Exec PA' - for a start I hate 'Exec' and much prefer 'Executive', also I work for four different directors so am not technially a 'PA', I consider myself an 'Executive Assistant' but that title is considered too senior to use at our company. Conversely, I go out of my way to refer to my work as 'admin' when liaising with colleagues so they don't think I am too big for my boots and think of myself as 'director' level - it is difficult because you work with the most senior people with the most confidential subjects but it is still an administrative function which has always had, wrongly in my opinion, dirisory overtones.
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