Making the Most of Summer
15 July 2008
Read by 1843 persons
Summer is here, and with it a probable slowdown in your activity. This is the perfect time to take stock and put all the odds in your favor for the back-to-school period.
Tip #1 - Get your files in order!
First of all, anyone who wants to move forward must demonstrate their professionalism, in all circumstances.
Before asking for new tasks, make sure that those entrusted to you have all been completed and well completed.
Review your pending files, process them, sort and archive those that are closed.
Only then can you claim to be credible in your approach.
--> The objective here is to demonstrate your reliability and professionalism.
Tip #2 - Be proactive
During the hectic months that preceded, you may have noticed dysfunctions in the organization of your department or your company.
You surely have a point of view on some of them. So, why not propose some improvement ideas on some of them?
For example, propose a new version of a form that could allow for more relevant statistics, suggest modifications in the validation procedures (reinforced control to avoid overruns, or, conversely, relaxation for procedures that are too rigid).
br> Another possibility: propose cost-saving ideas.
If you manage couriers, for example, take advantage of the relative calm of the summer period to analyze costs. For example, what percentage of deliveries are requested exclusively? Those where you were billed for waiting or surcharges? How much do these additional expenses represent?
These suggestions will give you the opportunity for a meeting with your management.
Faced with your proposal, your manager can adopt three positions:
refuse your suggestion. At least, you will have tried your luck! On the other hand, a refusal does not imply that your involvement has not been noticed...
refuse your suggestion but suggest another approach. This type of attitude demonstrates that your manager is aware of your desire to invest yourself and has faith in your skills. This is only positive.
accept your suggestion. In this case, congratulations! You will have obtained the desired effect...
---> The goal is not so much that your suggestion is accepted as it is to demonstrate your involvement in the life of the company, your analytical skills and your ability to solve problems.
Tip #3 - Identify your weaknesses, your strengths and work on them
Summer is the perfect opportunity to relax and take stock.
If you had an annual review, it is possible that your management highlighted areas for improvement or objectives.
Review the details of this interview and take stock: will your objectives be met? If not, why? What could you implement to achieve them?
As for areas for improvement, do they require training? If so, take advantage of the calm to find a provider and submit a training request.
This exercise is more difficult to perform if you have not had an annual interview because it implies impartial self-criticism and it is sometimes difficult to take a step back from oneself without help.
---> The objective? To put all the odds in your favor and to remove potential objections from your management so that your development is not delayed on the pretext of a gap.
Tip #4 - Ask your colleagues
You are not overwhelmed with work? You are probably not the only one.
If you dream of moving forward and have a specific goal in mind, it is up to you to identify the person best able to serve your projects and solicit them.
Know also that the task you are aiming for may not interest your colleague as much
Simply ask if you can observe them to understand how he/she goes about solving this or that problem, this or that file.
Be subtle enough in your wording to make them understand that your goal is to help them, or even to relieve them of a burden -and not to steal their place!
Know that by soliciting the advice of an individual, you are in fact valuing that individual: it amounts to implicitly acknowledging that this person possesses knowledge that you do not master. If only for this reason, there is a high chance that your request will be favorably received.
This feeling can be even more reinforced if your colleague feels that they have been chosen among many other candidates ("It's ME she chose. I am therefore the best.").
However, I insist: present your request simply. Don't overdo it, otherwise your attitude could seem suspicious and false.
If your colleague agrees to your request, be professional: don't hesitate to ask questions and take notes. This will demonstrate your interest.
If the task appeals to you, ask to try to accomplish it in turn under the supervision of your colleague. Who knows, maybe one day you will have the chance to see it entrusted to you, first during their holidays, then more definitively...
---> Summer is the ideal time to test your skills, get a "foot in the door" without too much risk and over a short period. It's up to you to see then if this experience has really seduced you and what you would like to evolve towards.
To evolve, you must demonstrate that you have the required skills. Nothing better than a little practice...
Tip #5 - Be conciliatory!
Summer is the holiday season. And therefore absences that must be filled.
Your employer will seek to compensate for these absences at the lowest cost, probably by distributing tasks among those present.
Can you refuse tasks?
Yes, as long as they are not within your responsibilities and skills. This is the case, for example, if you are an assistant and you are asked to draw up -and not to type- a technical quote requiring specific skills (compliance with standards, choice of materials...).
Furthermore, you cannot be held responsible in case of a problem (Court of Cassation - Social Chamber - April 8, 1998).
No, as long as "the modifications meet the organizational requirements of the service to the exclusion of any consideration relating to a disciplinary procedure and that the change of assignment within the same service does not constitute a substantial modification of the employment contract, as long as the employee remains exactly in the same situation in terms of their qualification, remuneration, hours and place of work" - (Court of Cassation - Social Chamber - May 10, 1999).
In other words, if you are performing the duties of an assistant, you cannot object to your boss assigning you tasks that usually fall to another assistant with equal qualifications.
In any case, a refusal must always be justified.
So, no more "I'm not paid for that" which will find no favor in the eyes of your employer. A "I'm sorry but I don't think I have the necessary skills because I don't master..." is much more credible and will have a better chance of being heard...
Managing unpleasant tasks
Your colleague is on leave and, as you expected, it's finally fallen on you: you get their least interesting tasks.
Except to argue with serious assets (a heavy workload), it is unlikely that you will be able to get rid of this burden.
So you might as well accept it: it's only temporary.
Without putting in excessive enthusiasm (one is never too cautious: our boss could think that we like these new assignments...), it is in your interest to perform these tasks seriously.
It is your image that is at stake here: you will not be entrusted with an interesting mission if you do not also accept ungrateful tasks and even less if you perform them badly.
Believe me: we've all been there!
On the eve of your colleague's return, put all their files on their desk, after having tidied up all the notes so that your colleague can find their way around... without you! Don't wait for their return: the first day of our return from holidays, we are not necessarily motivated to start at full speed...
So it is necessary to avoid being found with the killer phrase "Since you still have the file, could you take charge of... while waiting for Stéphanie's arrival?".
Nothing is more infuriating than doing the (thankless) work of a colleague while that colleague is sipping their coffee calmly recounting their holidays...
---> Don't get your management on your back. Perform the tasks assigned to you correctly. Never forget that what matters to your employer is that the work is done and that he has "management power", essential to the running of his company.
Posted on July 15, 2008
top-assistante.com
Tip #1 - Get your files in order!
First of all, anyone who wants to move forward must demonstrate their professionalism, in all circumstances.
Before asking for new tasks, make sure that those entrusted to you have all been completed and well completed.
Review your pending files, process them, sort and archive those that are closed.
Only then can you claim to be credible in your approach.
--> The objective here is to demonstrate your reliability and professionalism.
Tip #2 - Be proactive
During the hectic months that preceded, you may have noticed dysfunctions in the organization of your department or your company.
You surely have a point of view on some of them. So, why not propose some improvement ideas on some of them?
For example, propose a new version of a form that could allow for more relevant statistics, suggest modifications in the validation procedures (reinforced control to avoid overruns, or, conversely, relaxation for procedures that are too rigid).
br> Another possibility: propose cost-saving ideas.
If you manage couriers, for example, take advantage of the relative calm of the summer period to analyze costs. For example, what percentage of deliveries are requested exclusively? Those where you were billed for waiting or surcharges? How much do these additional expenses represent?
These suggestions will give you the opportunity for a meeting with your management.
Faced with your proposal, your manager can adopt three positions:
refuse your suggestion. At least, you will have tried your luck! On the other hand, a refusal does not imply that your involvement has not been noticed...
refuse your suggestion but suggest another approach. This type of attitude demonstrates that your manager is aware of your desire to invest yourself and has faith in your skills. This is only positive.
accept your suggestion. In this case, congratulations! You will have obtained the desired effect...
---> The goal is not so much that your suggestion is accepted as it is to demonstrate your involvement in the life of the company, your analytical skills and your ability to solve problems.
Tip #3 - Identify your weaknesses, your strengths and work on them
Summer is the perfect opportunity to relax and take stock.
If you had an annual review, it is possible that your management highlighted areas for improvement or objectives.
Review the details of this interview and take stock: will your objectives be met? If not, why? What could you implement to achieve them?
As for areas for improvement, do they require training? If so, take advantage of the calm to find a provider and submit a training request.
This exercise is more difficult to perform if you have not had an annual interview because it implies impartial self-criticism and it is sometimes difficult to take a step back from oneself without help.
---> The objective? To put all the odds in your favor and to remove potential objections from your management so that your development is not delayed on the pretext of a gap.
Tip #4 - Ask your colleagues
You are not overwhelmed with work? You are probably not the only one.
If you dream of moving forward and have a specific goal in mind, it is up to you to identify the person best able to serve your projects and solicit them.
Know also that the task you are aiming for may not interest your colleague as much
Simply ask if you can observe them to understand how he/she goes about solving this or that problem, this or that file.
Be subtle enough in your wording to make them understand that your goal is to help them, or even to relieve them of a burden -and not to steal their place!
Know that by soliciting the advice of an individual, you are in fact valuing that individual: it amounts to implicitly acknowledging that this person possesses knowledge that you do not master. If only for this reason, there is a high chance that your request will be favorably received.
This feeling can be even more reinforced if your colleague feels that they have been chosen among many other candidates ("It's ME she chose. I am therefore the best.").
However, I insist: present your request simply. Don't overdo it, otherwise your attitude could seem suspicious and false.
If your colleague agrees to your request, be professional: don't hesitate to ask questions and take notes. This will demonstrate your interest.
If the task appeals to you, ask to try to accomplish it in turn under the supervision of your colleague. Who knows, maybe one day you will have the chance to see it entrusted to you, first during their holidays, then more definitively...
---> Summer is the ideal time to test your skills, get a "foot in the door" without too much risk and over a short period. It's up to you to see then if this experience has really seduced you and what you would like to evolve towards.
To evolve, you must demonstrate that you have the required skills. Nothing better than a little practice...
Tip #5 - Be conciliatory!
Summer is the holiday season. And therefore absences that must be filled.
Your employer will seek to compensate for these absences at the lowest cost, probably by distributing tasks among those present.
Can you refuse tasks?
Yes, as long as they are not within your responsibilities and skills. This is the case, for example, if you are an assistant and you are asked to draw up -and not to type- a technical quote requiring specific skills (compliance with standards, choice of materials...).
Furthermore, you cannot be held responsible in case of a problem (Court of Cassation - Social Chamber - April 8, 1998).
No, as long as "the modifications meet the organizational requirements of the service to the exclusion of any consideration relating to a disciplinary procedure and that the change of assignment within the same service does not constitute a substantial modification of the employment contract, as long as the employee remains exactly in the same situation in terms of their qualification, remuneration, hours and place of work" - (Court of Cassation - Social Chamber - May 10, 1999).
In other words, if you are performing the duties of an assistant, you cannot object to your boss assigning you tasks that usually fall to another assistant with equal qualifications.
In any case, a refusal must always be justified.
So, no more "I'm not paid for that" which will find no favor in the eyes of your employer. A "I'm sorry but I don't think I have the necessary skills because I don't master..." is much more credible and will have a better chance of being heard...
Managing unpleasant tasks
Your colleague is on leave and, as you expected, it's finally fallen on you: you get their least interesting tasks.
Except to argue with serious assets (a heavy workload), it is unlikely that you will be able to get rid of this burden.
So you might as well accept it: it's only temporary.
Without putting in excessive enthusiasm (one is never too cautious: our boss could think that we like these new assignments...), it is in your interest to perform these tasks seriously.
It is your image that is at stake here: you will not be entrusted with an interesting mission if you do not also accept ungrateful tasks and even less if you perform them badly.
Believe me: we've all been there!
On the eve of your colleague's return, put all their files on their desk, after having tidied up all the notes so that your colleague can find their way around... without you! Don't wait for their return: the first day of our return from holidays, we are not necessarily motivated to start at full speed...
So it is necessary to avoid being found with the killer phrase "Since you still have the file, could you take charge of... while waiting for Stéphanie's arrival?".
Nothing is more infuriating than doing the (thankless) work of a colleague while that colleague is sipping their coffee calmly recounting their holidays...
---> Don't get your management on your back. Perform the tasks assigned to you correctly. Never forget that what matters to your employer is that the work is done and that he has "management power", essential to the running of his company.
Posted on July 15, 2008
top-assistante.com
