IT Administrative Assistant / Support Seminar Notes
October 24, 2006

This seminar focused on networking with other IT administrative assistants, and discussing issues, such as; Dealing with Difficult People and Working Relationship with Your Boss.

Issues:
Good and Not So Good Characteristics of a Leader
Dealing with Difficult People
Are You In-Sync With Your Boss
Vendors Calling - How to Handle

Characteristics of a “Not So Good” Leader:
Indecisive
Selfish
Non-Communication
Poor Listener
Non-Responsive
Expects Personal Work
Not Appreciative
Talks Down
No People Skills
No Ethics

Characteristics of a “Good” Leader:
Integrity
Coach
Good Listener
Communication
Encourager
Honest
Fair
Does Not Talk Down
Approachable
Courage/Takes a Stand
Cares
Compassion
Composed/Self Control

Regarding the phone message that one of our previous attendees use for calls received from vendors:
If you are a vendor and would like to present your product or service, or would like to schedule an appointment with ------, please email me the information and I will forward it on to -------

In-Sync With Boss:
Schedule meetings with him / her – once a day or weekly
Keep Communication Open
Ask if there are things you can do to help
Suggest ways you can be of more assistance
Suggest that you sit in staff meetings to get a better understanding of what is going on in the department.

Getting Upper Management Involved with Employees:
Have them serve ice cream for a get together
Have pot luck lunches from time to time where everyone comes
Do anonymous surveys to see what issues employees may be having and give to managers

Characteristics of a “Not So Good” Leader:
Meet with them and let them know what traits may be bothering you; not listening, talking down to you, indecisiveness, etc. They may not realize they are doing certain things, or that it bothers you. Keep communication on going.

Dealing with Difficult People:
Exercise on “Dealing with Indecisives”
1. Gently surface the reasons for the indecision
2. Reassure them - Explain you can live with any decision
3. Develop and analyze alternatives - Identify a limited number of alternatives
4. Bring them to closure- Remind them of deadline

Comments/Benefits:
Dealing with difficult people/Examples helped
Working relationship with boss/One-on-One with boss
Networking
Indecisive people/Learned how to handle