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	Attributes Of A Top Administrative Assistant

	by Jennifer Selland

It always has been a little ambiguous to figure out what exactly makes a top-notch Administrative Assistant -- especially when you are looking to hire help for the first time. Well-Run Concepts has been conducting RESEARCH to quantify what is needed in the position of Administrative Assistant today -- using a comprehensive, validated, step-by-step process to determine what is needed for top performance. This article will summarize our FINDINGS to date and here is what we found. Whether you are self-employed and just looking for a little outside help, or working for a big corporation and searching for your next assistant, these tips will help with your hire.

RESULTS ORIENTATION

A good administrative assistant has the ability to identify actions necessary to complete tasks and obtain results:

maintains FOCUS on goals
identifies and acts on removing potential OBSTACLES to successful goal attainment
implements thorough and effective PLANS and applies appropriate resources to produce desired results

SELF MANAGEMENT

An outstanding administrative assistant has the ability to prioritize and complete tasks in order to deliver desired outcomes within allotted time frames:

independently pursues business objectives in an organized and EFFICIENT manner
prioritizes activities as necessary to meet job responsibilities
maintains required level of activity toward achieving goals without direct SUPERVISION
minimizes work flow DISRUPTIONS and time wasters to complete high quality work within a spcified time frame

GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

Your best choice for an administrative assistant has the overall ability to set, pursue and attain achievable goals:

establishes goals that are relevant, realistic, and ATTAINABLE
identifies and IMPLEMENTS required plans and milestones to achieve specific business goals
INITIATES activity toward goals without unnecessary delay
stays on TARGET to complete goals regardless of obstacles or adverse circumstances

PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY

A high-quality administrative assistant will have the capacity to be answerable for personal actions:

accepts personal RESPONSIBILITY for the consequences of personal actions
avoids placing unnecessary BLAME on others
maintains personal COMMITMENT to objectives regardless of the success or failure of personal decisions
applies personal lessons learned from past failures to moving FORWARD in achieving future successes

FLEXIBILITY

A good administrative assistant has the ability to readily modify, respond to and integrate change with minimal personal resistance:

ADAPTS effectively to changing plans and priorities
demonstrates the capacity to handle MULTIPLE tasks at one time
deals comfortably with AMBIGUITY
adjusts preset plans as necessary with minimal RESISTANCE

RESILIENCY

An exceptional administrative assistant has the ability to quickly recover from adversity:

continues toward goals in the face of difficulty and ADVERSITY
handles CRITICISM and rejection from others with objectivity
recovers quickly from personal SETBACKS
moves past unforeseen OBSTACLES without unnecessary delay

SELF STARTING

A quality administrative assistant has the ability to initiate and sustain momentum without external stimulation:

INITIATES relevant activities toward achieving business goals
independently completes projects and produces desired RESULTS
requires little or no SUPERVISION to stay focused on necessary activities
readily identifies and pursues business OPPORTUNITIES without outside direction

Jennifer Selland is the founder of Well-Run Concepts -- "Helping Organizations Define and Develop Top Talent." You may contact her at 877-566-2900 or or visit her website at www.well-run.com.

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