We can't know everything, but our boss's certainly don't need to know that. It's a bit of an act isn't it? Inside you may not have a clue what the answer is, but usually there is someone who does so I always base my answer on that. I act calm when presented with the problem and ask my boss to leave it with me to come back with a solution and give a short timeframe that I will get back to him. It calms him down that someone is looking into it and gives me time to go searching for the answer. There are so many places to look and people to ask. This is where a large network of assistants is helpful, and then of course there is Google.
When I started my new job, I had never taken minutes before so I did my homework, talked to my friend who was an expert minute taker, took a course, read everything I could get my hands on and when the big day came to take minutes at a Board of Directors meeting, I acted as if I knew what I was doing and played the part of being the most confident professional person at the table. Inside I didn’t have a clue, but they didn’t know that. After all what was I going to do other than go forward and do the job at hand? I didn't have much choice except to sink or swim and I dog paddled with all my might and stayed afloat and got better at it and recently was able to give a webinar on Taking Effective Meeting Minutes.
I had made up my mind that I wanted to try professional speaking, but had never tried it before. Shortly after I made that decision, I was asked to speak to an admin group of about 50 people. When I arrived I acted as if I had been a professional speaker for years. It was my first time, but they didn’t know that.
If my boss has some important person waiting to speak to him. Someone from the media or a high-ranking official. I act as if I am very comfortable in their presence and welcome them to our office and act very professionally. Inside I think, Didn’t I just see this person on TV? But they don’t know my thoughts.
When you go on an interview that is a great time to act the part. You should be well prepared before you go into the interview and then you can concentrate on answering the questions, asking your own questions and wowing them with your professionalism.
Acting is not the only secret, we also need to dress the part. If you want to be treated as a professional, act and dress like one. I guess Shakespeare was right when he said the whole world is a stage. I will bring it down just a few levels and say the office is also a stage. How are your acting skills?
Break a leg...
