Focuses on the training and development needs of admin professionals and features topics such as hard skills (software competencies, writing, communication, filing) and soft skills (teamwork, time management, leadership).
Issue link: https://digital.hrreporter.com/i/826248
JUNE 2017 2 E D I TO R ' S N OT E George Pearson Lifting yourself and others beats bullying The cost of bullying, including sexual harassment, is substantial. Fox News, faced with the loss of advertisers in the wake of revela- tions that the company had paid $13 million (U.S.) to settle sexual harass- ment complaints against Bill O'Reilly, its top-rated star, finally separated from the conservative talk-show icon. Not as obvious are losses – mon- etary and non-monetary – that accrue to employers experiencing bullying of various kinds in the workplace. In their book, The Bully-Proof Workplace, authors Peter J. Dean and Molly D. Shepard contend that bul- lying, which apparently affects more females than males, is not a gender issue but rather a power issue. "Eighty per cent of bullying is done by people who have a position of power over other people," Dean said in an interview with Knowl- edge@Wharton, an online business analysis journal of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsyl- vania. Dean says that institutionalized bullying can cause morale problems that in turn drag down productiv- ity. For example, a bullied employee could suffer harmful health effects or possibly decide to leave, forcing the company to invest time and money seeking a replacement. Power trips by managers and others in position of authority are counterproductive, to say the least. Contrast this selfish, costly behav- iour with our story in this issue of how Greg Tanzola, executive vice- president of Ontario-based Sorbara Companies, painstakingly identified and hired an executive assistant, Cheryl Westcott. By Tanzola's admis- sion, hiring Westcott has improved his own performance. "Having someone who under- stands that speed, decision-making, adaptability and multi-tasking are part of what gets you to the good result has been invaluable," says Tanzola. "I very much enjoy working together and I can also see that we're getting great results." He sees Westcott as a "sounding board. "He adds, "I didn't appreci- ate the value of that second opinion until I started working with her, not because we're necessarily always in agreement . . . but just understand- ing how somebody else might think about it and take it into account . . . I think it's helped me to come to some better decisions." Westcott, who joined Sorbara Group following a dozen years of working in the male-dominated con- struction industry, has benefited from that background in her new position. Over the years she has acquired hard skills learned on the job and in cours- es she pursued on her own time. As well, as a young, blonde female she has honed the soft skills necessary to deal with people who many times pigeon-holed her as a "secretary." Along the way, she was befriended and mentored by some of her manag- ers who recognized her potential and encouraged her development. Amazing, isn't it, the growth and prosperity that can result from one taking a role of enabler rather than manipulator. Administrative Assistant's Update is published once a month by Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. Director, Media Solutions, Canada: Karen Lorimer Publisher: Todd Humber Editor: George Pearson george@adminupdate.ca Associate Editor: Jennifer Lewington jennifer@adminupdate.ca EDITORIAL OFFICE (519) 271-6000 Administrative Assistant's Update Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. 1 Corporate Plaza, 2075 Kennedy Road Toronto, ON M1T 3V4 CUSTOMER SERVICE (416) 609-3800 (800) 387-5164 FAX (416) 298-5082 (877) 750-9041 customersupport.legaltaxcanada @tr.com Contents copyright. All rights reserved. © 2017 Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. Contents may not be reproduced without written permission. Brief extracts may be made with due acknowledgement. Annual subscription: $189. Publications Mail Registration No. 40065782 GST# 897176350 UPDATE Administrative Assistant's We welcome Learning Tree as a regular contributor to AAU (see the article about versioning on page 3). Learning Tree offers practical, real-world from training in today's most in- demand skills, including: Microsoft Office SharePoint Project Management Leadership Professional Development Visit www.LearningTree.ca for more information.