Communications Skills And The Admin

It's no secret that to be successful at your career - any career - you have to be a good communicator. But that is especially the case for administrative assistants who have to deal with so many different people.

"They are such a pivotal person," observes O'Hara Meyer, president of Administrative Excellence, Inc. "They have to talk to management and other people inside the office, as well as the people outside the office."

Career Importance

According to the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP), there's more call than ever for admins to interact via e-mail, audio- and video-conferencing, and even face-to-face with customers and associates from around the world. Those who master interpersonal and communications skills will succeed.

O'Hara Meyer also teaches communications classes for admins, and she cautions admins not to give away their power when they speak.

"This happens if you're someone who apologizes for everything or uses passive words all the time," observes O'Hara Meyer. "Every time you do something like that, you're giving away some of your power."

She advises communicating in a way that shows confidence.

Skill Builders

The IAAP suggests several places where you can go to enhance your skills:

Look within your company. Is there anyone on site who can teach you what you need to learn? Is there a training department? Are there mentors?

Ask other people who have the skills you want how they got them. They might be able to recommend a person, a tutorial or a class that would help.

Get on the mailing list for local community colleges and vo-tech schools. Each semester see what is being offered and select the ones you could benefit from the most.

Says O'Hara Meyer, "You want someone who will give you candid, constructive criticism."

Good Communicators Are Good Listeners

Robert Elsenpeter is a freelance writer from Blaine.