How To Keep A Competitive Edge By Administrative Professionals

Administrative professionals are surrounded by the most extremely skilled and competent people in today's workforce. Many are experts in desktop publishing, spreadsheet reporting, budgeting, and Internet research.

 Beyond this proficiency, they possess enhanced verbal and written communication and multitasking capabilities, the capacity to work in a team environment, and crisis-solving skills. Because of their versatility, administrative professionals play an essential role in many organizations.

 Although the demand for office staffing is on the increase now, the future is less certain. The Bureau of Labor Statistics foresees overall job growth but administrative professionals will decrease over the next eight years. Still, chances will only exist for those who keep pace with new technology and work towards developing themselves to meet up with the current challenges inherent in the 21st Century Office Environment administration.

 If you want to increase your chance of succeeding in your career I would like to suggest that you just as much as possible to increase your marketability, you may decide to become an authority in Web content, multimedia presentations, online meetings, and video conferencing. You may equally try to specialize in the accounting, insurance, legal, or medical field. This can be another way to widen your employment opportunities."

 I would like to offer you some additional career tips to give you the opportunity to keep a competitive edge over your colleagues. You can do this by following any of the listed points below:

 1. You must try to enhance your computer skills and be capable in all the software applications, especially those being used by your organization. You should also make it a point of duty to volunteer to teach others. This will endear you to the management of your company and make you indispensable for the progress of your company.

 2. Furthermore, you may equally increase your time management, organizational, and prioritization skills to manage various projects and priorities.

 3. You must try to sharpen your written and verbal communication skills.

 4. You must also increase leadership, negotiation, and strategic thinking skills. You can do this by joining associations that provide educational seminars and offer networking opportunities.

 5. Volunteering to participate in teams to boost exposure among executives is another option for you. You must make yourself available to help others achieve their aims. This will no doubt open many opportunities for you as well.

 6. Try as much as possible to set up a portfolio of your skills and expertise to give yourself a competitive edge when marketing your accomplishments.

 7. Taking time to subscribe to various periodicals, journals, magazines, etc., will make you stay informed about your industry. This will afford you the opportunity to know about current trends in your field.

8. Dressing appropriately for your office environment is one other area you should focus on. Whether the dress code is business or business casual, you should endeavor to dress to convey a professional image.

 9. Keeping an encouraging attitude is another thing you can do to improve your chance of survival. With continuous change in organizations today, this is an important quality that will be recognized by your boss and your peers.

 You have to bear in mind that Administrative Professionals are among the most adaptable and resourceful employees, and the best employers care for them by offering training and providing a career path. In today's fast-changing business climate, administrative professionals who possess up-to-date skills, expand new talents, and are proactive in career planning will undoubtedly enhance their advancement potential.

 Thank you.

 

WHO AM I?

Having a greater knowledge of what one’s capability is, is one of the prerequisites of eventful living.  The act of asking insightful questions like this will undoubtedly open a wide vista for an individual to plan for whatever  he/she is aspiring to achieve in life. 

If you are able to ask yourself this question as often as possible, this will give you the opportunity of knowing “who you were, who you are and what you stand to become in future”.

Asking this question is a clear indication that you are a dreamer, who knows what stands your way of becoming someone great in life.

Who am I? is a question that gives you purpose of life, direction, vision and goals to what is achievable for every trying soul. As an individual you should cultivate the habit of asking yourself this leading question to serve as guide in your life engagement. Asking this question alone is not going to give you the required information needed to succeed in life but by providing answers to the question asked.

Provision of right answers without begging the question will go a long way in giving you insight of what the future holds for you. Begging the question involves not giving direct answer to the question or procrastinating away your time without any definite direction. DON’T DO IT!!!

Another aspects to take cognizance of are the likely skills that you are going to develop by asking yourself this question and answering it accordingly. 

The skills are Academic skills, Thinking skills, Interpersonal skills, Teamwork skills, Technical skills, Communication skills, Proper workplace behaviour,  effective performance and productivity disposition, good work ethics, obedience to rules and regulation, among others. All these will guide you  to your goals and objectives set to achieve in life.

• Academic skills will prompt you to work hard by facing your study as expected  of you (in as much you have goals you are targeting in life)
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• Thinking skills will propel you to think critically and positively before you embark on any job or disposition. By doing this you will be able to weigh the pros and cons of your action before doing anything at all
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• Interpersonal skills will make you relate with people with regards and respect for their personality. This on the other hand will open a new vista for you because people will love you for whatever you are doing and will be ready to assist you  when you need help. Empathy and positive regards is a virtue that everybody supposed to cultivate towards their fellow human being.
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• Teamwork skills involve thinking about any joint decision that has  to do with group work. Don’t isolate yourself from others, believe that “there is no I in group work”. Everybody has its own relevance in group work and you must understand this fact. This will assist you in developing good communication skills.
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• Ø  Communication skills involve ability to communicate effectively to bring about positive results. Good communication skills can go a long way getting message across to your fellow human being without any problem.
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• Proper workplace behaviour is another opportunity you can derive while developing yourself to meet up with the challenges of purposive lifestyle, when you ask yourself a probing that can prompt you to go extra mile to be an achiever.   
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•  Having developed all these virtues will make you understand and exhibit good work ethics. Good work ethics involve working towards setting and achieving corporate goals. Understand and stick to assignments until the results are achieved. You will also imbibe the habit of loyalty to your organisation. 
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 Ask yourself this question, provide answer to the question and look out for people of high integrity and fashion your life alongside the way they fashion theirs in a way that are profitable to them. Look out for how to improve yourself on daily basis. Do your best and pray for God’s guidance.

Build your tomorrow, Build your life, Build your Future; because there is no destination called FUTURE! It starts NOW!!!

On a final note, take enough rest and be cheerful.