Administrative Excellence: Rise to the Top of Your Field (and Stay There)

My two books, Become an Inner Circle Assistant and Underneath It All are widely considered "work bibles" for the administrative profession. Each book presents new ideas and ambitious ways to approach the challenge of rising to - or staying at - the top in a field that is exciting and rewarding. These are must-have resources for anyone who is serious about owning their career in the administrative field.

Below, you'll find short excerpts from each to help you get an idea of what these books are all about.

Excerpt from Become an Inner Circle Assistant

Land the Job You Really Want Without Leaving the Company

It's the perfect time to create a new job or reinvent the one you have now. And all this may be possible without leaving the company. Mergers, acquisitions, buyouts and other modern-day realities impact business. Therefore, the climate is likely to be ripe for your personal career growth and can result in a boon for your company.

It's not easy to create a new job, but the key is to match your talents and aspirations with your company's needs. Here are three early steps to take toward your dream job:

• Start by asking yourself what you do really well and how you can get to do more of it.
• Don't wait to get permission. If you want to incorporate more responsibility into your position, no manager will argue - especially if you can do it successfully.
• Seek feedback. All of us have blind spots. While we may think we know all our strengths and weaknesses, others see us in a different light. Encourage feedback from your manager, colleagues, customers, and others who interact with you regularly. Once you receive their feedback, work on a plan for improvement. (Remember, absurdly easy steps aren't as threatening and, therefore, get you going.)

As these actions move you closer to your goal, you'll discover other actions that seem appropriate. Act on them, too.

Excerpt from Underneath It All

Break Through a Career Plateau - and Climb to the Stars!

Employees often ask me, "How can I continue advancing my career after I feel I've hit a job plateau?" They also tell me that they like who they work for and the work they do, but feel stagnant. Anyone who asks that question is a go-getter! How does an employee continue moving forward in her chosen profession?

Expand your job.

A lull in your career may signal you're ready for new challenges - not necessarily a new job. So broaden the scope of the work you do. Look for projects that highlight your particular strengths - tasks that step beyond your job description, but that you feel qualified doing or learning.

Seek new education or training.

When you feel your career is in a rut, try to find educational opportunities that re-ignite your curiosity about the world - and inspire you to achieve even more.

Ask for guidance.

Perhaps there's a barrier to advancing that you can't see. Or maybe there's an obvious way to move forward - but it's not immediately evident to you. In either case, when you feel stymied, seek the advice of someone you trust - someone who understands your career aspirations. It could be your supervisor, a mentor, and HR manager or even a career coach.

Speak up.

Career stagnation can sometimes be fixed by speaking frankly to your manager about the situation. Make no assumptions!

Move on.

Of course, if none of the above suggestions work, you may want to consider whether there's another job that suits you better - one that's more in line with your future career goals. Write down all the pros and cons to keeping your current position. If the cons outweigh the pros, have the courage of your convictions to begin seeking a new position.

Special offer for OfficeArrow members: Joan's Administrative Excellence Bundle includes both Become an Inner Circle Assistant and Underneath It All for a discounted rate. Purchase both and save.

NOTE: Also, be sure to catch up with Joan at the OfficeArrow booth at the IAAP Conference on Monday, July 27th. Bring your books and she'll sign them for you! Or, purchase them there.