16 November 2007

You may feel like it, but don't!

As an assistant I have always been amazed when someone has called me wanting to speak to my boss and then has been rude on the phone. The Administrative Assistant is typically the door you have to go through to get to the boss.

I would not recommend using your position to make things difficult for someone trying to reach your professional, but it just has never made sense to me when people have done that. So how should you handle the situation?
  • Be professional. Speak calmly to the person and do the best you can to reassure them that you will give their name and number to your boss.
  • Don't take it personally. I would give the person the benefit of the doubt and would assume that they normally would not behave like that. They are probably under a lot of stress due to a deadline or a situation that may have happened and they are taking that stress out on you.
  • Ask if you can refer them to someone else in the office who may be able to help them.
  • Don't argue.
  • If you were unable to resolve the situation, tell your boss. Don't keep this information to yourself. Tell your professional and let him or her handle it.

No comments: