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/1060346
3 Administrative Assistant's UPDATE By Shelagh Donnelly If you were to survey the women and men who enjoy governance careers, you'd find that many of them took a circuitous route to the boardroom. You can, too. Some, though by no means all, organizations require that candidates have an undergraduate credential. Beyond such prerequisites, how do you know if you and the role are right for one another? If you're feeling a little daunted, I encourage you to shake that off. Right now. You say you don't understand governance or its nuances? They're crucial, but they may be learned and there are numerous resources. It helps if you have a curious mind and enjoy reading and learning. In fact, if you've built a successful career as an executive assistant, you may already routinely deploy the skills needed to effectively support a board of directors. Most administrative types I know tend to be highly organized, and it's important to be able to prioritize and effectively manage your time. If you're flexible, proactive and solution- focused, that will help you in deal - ing with the sometimes competing demands that can come your way. As an effective EA, you likely also have strong communication skills. The capacity to articulate information clearly, diplomatically and succinctly, both verbally and in writing, is among the more important strengths an individual can bring to the governance career. Your ability to actively listen to what others are saying (or not saying) is equally important. A good governance professional will have or will develop research skills. In addition to preparing agendas, cor - respondence and reports, you'll likely draft or interpret Terms of Reference (TOR), policies, by-laws and legislation or articles of incorporation. Your attention to detail will help en- sure that your board remains in com- pliance. You'll need strong recording skills, as a board's minutes represent institutional history and may be relied upon by multiple audiences. Skills aside, you'll want to consider characteristics that will help you. As a governance professional, you're likely a key liaison between management and the board. You must be objective, and it certainly helps to be confi- dent, collaborative, assertive and (of course) diplomatic. You need to be flexible while main- taining a calm, professional approach. You'll be working alongside a hopeful- ly diverse group of high achievers who are responsible for significant and sometimes challenging decisions. You may be privy to sensitive information, and your board will rely on you for discretion and unquestionable ethics. The role is not (she laughed) without challenges. As a governance professional, you're neither fish nor fowl; you're likely not part of manage- ment and you're certainly not a board member. You may have long hours. You will safeguard information of which your colleagues may be unaware. Since you may find the role isolating at times, you need to also safeguard your resilience. Is the role demanding? Yes. It can also be rewarding. Your board's role is a strategic one, and so you have the opportunity to think strategically. The best governance professionals, like the best EAs, are positive and quietly influential. International speaker Shelagh Donnelly educates, inspires and challenges assistants on cybersecurity, governance, digital disruption and matters of longstanding relevance to the career. She has extensive C-suite experience and is past chair of the Board of Directors of Governance and President's Office Professionals (CICan:GPOP). Assistants from more than 100 countries turn to Shelagh's Exceptional EA website, https://exceptionalea.com, for professional development. Step up to a governance role (Part 2) EA skills are your foundation Shelagh Donnelly Admin forum in Toronto March 6-7 Administrative Assistant's Update contributor Rhonda Scharf will be among featured instructors in an Executive Leadership Support Forum March 6 and 7 at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto. Others include Julie Perrine, CEO and founder of All Things Admin; Vickie Sokol Evans, CEO and founder of the productivity training firm Red Cape Company; Monique Helstrom, Chief of Simon, Simon Sinek Inc.; and Nadia Hernandez, executive producer of the ELS Forum. A similar event is scheduled for Vancouver July 24-25. For more information visit elsforum.com.