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You're a great administrative professional; but even great administrative professionals can't do it all nonstop. Learn to balance, even separate, your professional and personal life, time and commitments with these tips.

 

 

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Beat the Work/Life Balance Challenge

by Diane Domeyer, executive director of Office Team

Striking a balance between professional and personal commitments is a common dilemma for many of today’s administrative professionals. Lean staff levels and rising workloads require more hours on the job, making it difficult to juggle deadlines and dinner plans, presentations and trips to the gym, budgets and family vacations.

If it seems there are not enough hours in the day to complete your work and engage in outside interests, you are probably already focused on improving your work/life balance. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving the best of both worlds, but the following tips can help you establish a better equilibrium between your administrative responsibilities at work and your personal obligations:

  • Negotiate a change. Many companies today recognize that family-friendly policies help them attract and retain talented employees. If you like your current job but need more flexibility, see if it is possible to negotiate a compressed workweek, a part-time position, or job-sharing or telecommuting opportunities. In your discussion, give specific examples of how modifying your current work situation will increase your efficiency and productivity.
  • Slow down. Whenever possible, schedule time between meetings and leave your evenings free so you can refuel throughout and at the end of each day. Resist the urge to bring too many projects home over the weekends. Distancing yourself from work-related activities will give you time to recharge so you’re more alert and productive when Monday rolls around.
  • Simplify. As an administrative professional you are constantly trying to manage and complete a variety of projects in a short period of time. In this role, it is especially important to identify ways to simplify your life. For example, eliminate the clutter in your office; an organized work area will save you time sorting through papers and allow you to work more efficiently.
  • Chart goals. Take charge and develop a prioritized list of tasks that must be accomplished each day. Crossing off tasks as they are completed will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed. In addition, be sure to set aside time for unforeseen events. Having a contingency plan for emergencies will enable you to continue with business as usual in the midst of a crisis.
  • Share responsibilities. No matter how efficient you are, there is only so much you can accomplish in one day. If you are an executive administrative professional, make sure that you are delegating appropriately instead of trying to do everything yourself. Doing so will reduce your workload and help your staff build their skills.

Remember that achieving the proper work/life balance is an ongoing process that depends on your current goals and responsibilities. Your success in both areas depends largely on your ability to define a balance that works best for you, negotiating a reasonable arrangement with your employer and accepting responsibility for making adjustments as circumstances change.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Diane Domeyer is executive director of OfficeTeam, the nation’s leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled administrative and office support professionals. OfficeTeam has more than 300 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com.

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