The Administrative Professional and Professional Growth

The Effective Admin™

**The Effective Admin is a leading authority since 2004 specializing in professional development, educational resources and training for administrative assistants, executive assistants, secretaries, and administrative professionals of any job title.** At this site, you can get downloadable, self-study, informational products exclusively for administrative assistants and executive assistants that provide you with tips and guidance you can use now at work and in your career. Materials are produced by Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach™ and Founder and President of The Effective Admin: "My specialty is serving administrative professionals like you with job performance and career management advice. I have 24 years experience interacting with the 'real' workplace and working administrative professionals."

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Are you an administrative professional who wants to achieve an even higher level in your profession? One key to achieving higher-level responsibilities and advancement in your career is professional growth. Here are several concepts to help you start growing and stop standing still in your current administrative professional position. Your ultimate goal is to grow into new job and skill levels. And don't worry---professional growth doesn't mean you have to stop being an admin; these days there is plenty of room for growth within the administrative profession (such as administrative supervisor, senior admin positions, etc.) plus in roles that associate closely with the administrative profession (such as in a training or human resource position that works closely with helping and placing admins).

Stop Standing Still (Why and How Career Advancement Requires Personal and Professional Growth)

By Karen Porter

The Administrative Professional
Job Performance and Career Success Coach
Assisting Administrative Support Professionals Since 2004

QUESTION: How do you grow in your career? How do you get to the next level?

ANSWER: Much like you do in any part of your life. You evolve, grow, seek out opportunity, grow, seize opportunity when you see it and grow. Did I say grow? No day has to be the same in life and that includes your professional work life. And professional growth is one key to achieving higher-level responsibilities and advancement in your career.

Nobody was born being an executive assistant, manager or director. Nobody was born a good speaker or a fantastic writer (although you'll find people who will argue that point). Nobody came out of the womb crying out "I will be the president of the United States (or elsewhere)". These are job levels and skill levels. You actively grow into them. Here are several concepts to help you start growing and stop standing still in your current administrative professional position...

GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. Do you follow a routine every day? Do you do the same tasks, eat lunch with the same people, come and leave at the same time by the same route? If you've been doing this for years, it's probably a comfortable and stress-free routine. You know how quickly you'll get to work, what to expect and who you'll see and speak with mostly during the day. But another way to see a "routine" is to view it as a rut. Stop existing and start growing. Do things differently and do different things. That's part of growth....

...This complete article is available in "The Gold" eBook in the VAAP membership packet available here.