By Aisha Aro-Lambo
It is your third month working as a personal assistant for a top executive of a Fortune 500 company. You are always on time, your organization skills seem as if you have a magic wand tucked somewhere under your sleeves that when you swing the wand, the bolt of energy gets to solve the biggest issues at lightning speed. You have great communication skills (at least five of your colleagues tell you that), you look the part, dress the part, and feel like the part wire! But when it comes to scoring with the boss, it seems as if you hit a brick wall and that is really tough on your ego.
You wonder what you are doing wrong. It is almost as if you are not heading anywhere regarding the great working relationship you should have as a personal assistant to your boss and you are almost thinking of taking a course on telepathy to help read the mind of your boss.
Let me share with you five things bosses never say but want their personal assistants to do. These tips should get you scoring favors with your boss in no time.
Be His Confidant
Your boss has to see you as his confidant before that brick wall is brought down. This takes time to build but you will have to take bold steps to make it achievable. A boss wants a personal assistant who is a great listener, reliable, attentive, and caring. You must know how to be empathic when it comes to a period of crisis, feel the pain of your boss, and truly celebrate victories when your boss scores big.
Be A Shield
A shield is a protective coating that protects against abrasive forces. You must be the protector at all times. Sometimes it may require you to take the fall for your boss to look good but you should always remember that it is all about your boss. You need to know how to absorb and filter situations seamlessly and be a strong defense that is not easily broken. Be always ready to take the heat.
Extension
Most bosses will not tell you they need you to be an extension, more like another version of them. You should not only look the part but also you should be the part. Think the way they will naturally think, take decisions independently, and execute flawlessly. They need to know that with you on the job, they can go to bed with both eyes closed. You are the fixer.
Informant
Now, this may sound like snitching and if not done with tact, everyone in the office may avoid sharing information with you. You must remember the “protect the boss at all times” golden rule. So, know how to discern information that may make or mar your boss. Bosses always want to know what is going on around the organisation and they will need you to be their eyes on the ground.
Self-Awareness
Bosses want you to work day after day to enhance your self-awareness. They want you to stay in tune with your worries, hot buttons, and quirks in order to have your head always in a good place, promoting a climate of comfort and safety. You should be able to know your onus and identify battles that are crucial to fighting and those that are less important. Most of all, always have a great vibe and blunt out negative consequences. This lets them know you are reliable and clear-headed and you will always have their back, no matter the state you find yourself in.
