Credibility. It’s a friend to those administrative professionals who work to attain it. However, it’s a terrible professional enemy to those who don’t have it or, worse yet, lose it.
Credibility is incredibly important for all admins. Those who have it command the respect of the executives and teams they support because they can be trusted and relied upon to get the job. Those without it require careful and constant monitoring and are a source of stress instead of support for their executives and teams. So which side of the equation do you fall on?
Whether you want to maintain your professional credibility, you’re just starting your career, or you’ve had a misstep that’s put your credibility in jeopardy, there are some things you can do to build (or re-build) and strengthen your credibility.
- Continue your professional education. You don’t need to officially go back to school, but keeping your administrative skills and knowledge current can go a long way in gaining you some serious credibility. This is especially true when it comes to technology. You don’t need to be an expert at the latest technologies, but you should at least have a basic understanding of which tools and software do which things and know the basics of social media, web design, and blogging.
- Be an expert. Whether you’re a great travel planner, brilliant writer, or a stellar meeting organizer, own what you’re good at. You might not be the best at every facet of your job, but demonstrating your strengths positions you as an authority in those areas, and helps build your professional credibility.
- Don’t pretend. If you don’t know something – whether it’s how to do something or the answer to a question – admit it. As an admin, you are a wealth of information, but you can’t be expected to know everything. There’s no harm in saying, “I don’t know, but let me find out,” and doing some research or asking someone who does know the answer. However, pretending to know something you don’t could get you – and your credibility – into a lot of trouble.
Credibility is a powerful attribute for admins – one that can make or break your career. The more credible you are, the more likely you are to get promoted, land your dream job, or command a higher salary. Don’t let a lack of credibility or a slip-up do damage to your reputation. Take the precautions and steps you need to build and preserve your professional credibility. Your career success depends on it.
© 2013 Julie Perrine International, LLC
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Julie Perrine, CAP-OM, is the founder and CEO of All Things Admin, providing training, mentoring and resources for administrative professionals worldwide. Julie applies her administrative expertise and passion for lifelong learning to serving as an enthusiastic mentor, speaker and author who educates admins around the world on how to be more effective every day. Learn more about Julie’s books — The Innovative Admin: Unleash the Power of Innovation in Your Administrative Career and The Organized Admin: Leverage Your Unique Organizing Style to Create Systems, Reduce Overwhelm, and Increase Productivity. And request your free copy of our special report “From Reactive to Proactive: Creating Your Strategic Administrative Career Plan” at www.AllThingsAdmin.com.
