SEPTEMBER 2017
2
E D I TO R ' S N OT E
George Pearson
Admins manage without being managers
Administrative professionals are con-
stantly reinventing themselves.
Perceptive, ambitious admins, who
understand what drives an organiza-
tion's success, develop skills that make
them indispensable to their organiza-
tions.
In this issue of AAU we bring you
the story of an executive assistant, Sue
Dunn, whose DNA puts her at the hub
of her organization, a big-city general
hospital.
Her innate desire to explore, under-
stand and contribute to the hospital's
essential nature and processes has
made her invaluable to the organiza-
tion. She loves the hospital and it loves
her and needs her.
Without being an actual manager,
Sue leads in all sorts of ways, including
taking charge of the hospital's com-
mand centre, which goes into opera-
tion when crises arise.
This is what today's EAs do,
says Melba J. Duncan, an expert on
administrative professionals, in a
paper posted on the web (http://www.
duncangroupinc.com/EACommentary.
pdf). They are natural managers "be-
cause they understand that managing
is a set of human interactions, not a
series of mechanical tasks. They are
the local experts who have built strong
interpersonal and business relation-
ships with executives."
They have a set of "advanced skills,
competencies and capabilities," says
Duncan. Here are some:
• Imposing order on chaos: attention
to detail
• Managing time-sensitive, confiden-
tial tasks
• Distraction control: manage com-
plexity
• Strong knowledge of business: stra-
tegic skills, analytic thoroughness
• Monitoring important issues with
others in the company
• Acting as a role model and mentor
• Serve as a catalyst to create new
ways of managing processes
Executive assistants who excel, says
Duncan, "do so because they enjoy the
self-management focus, the opportu-
nity for collegial decision-making, new
learning and recognition for their par-
ticipation in corporate achievements.
"The evolving role of the executive
assistant is more integral to the realiza-
tion of management goals than ever
before. It is a workplace integration
and evolution that will continue."
No doubt you will see aspects of
your own philosophy, skills and as-
pirations in Duncan's view of today's
administrative professional and in
AAU's interviews with Sue Dunn and
her executives.
Do you see yourself as a leader?
"Leadership is not about positional
authority," says Duncan. "It's about
attitude. The best leaders desire to
support and inspire others, not them-
selves."
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
Be authentic
says new book
on negotiating
Learning the art of negotia-
tion is useful in everyday life,
as well as in more formal
negotiations.
A lack of authenticity
– including game playing –
undermines the negotiation
process, says Corey Kup
-
fer, author of a new book,
Authentic Negotiating: Clarity,
Detachment, & Equilibrium
/ The Three Keys to True
Negotiating Success & How to
Achieve Them.
In recent interview with
Knowledge@Wharton, Kupfer
says it's important to be hon
-
est with yourself as well as
authentic with others.
"It's about doing the inter-
nal work to make sure you
are true to what you really
want."
Read the entire interview:
http://knowledge.wharton.
upenn.edu/article/how-to-
become-a-good-negotiator/
