Self Management for Assistants

Self-Management and Personal Care

Many assistants hear self-management and perceive it as the ability to not rely on their executive to move forward with projects. After all, the ability to think on your feet comes with the job title of an assistant. Self-management is more than being self-sufficient. It is about defining the quality of life you would like for yourself, being aware of your choices, and listening before reacting.

In this Personal Care and Self-Management for Assistants blog, we are going to cover simple and profound concepts. Some of the benefits you will derive include:

  • Learning to self-manage to define the quality of life you would like.
  • Attitude awareness (even the most serious circumstances can be serenely handled).
  • Prioritizing – the first step to problem-solving and realizing it is okay to put things on the back-burner.
  • Practicing good decorum and communication.
  • Putting your feelings in check to react with your intelligence, not emotions.

At the end of this blog, there is a helpful video that goes into detail on learning to self-manage. If you are ready to better yourself and your career as an assistant, read on.

Learning to self-manage

Life does not have to become one big emergency. I know when we are in times of chaos it may feel that way. Take for example the panic brought on by COVID-19. In the beginning, life seemed like one big emergency; and it was—we had to leave our offices with little notice, diligently practice social distancing, navigate the changes brought on by working from home, and forfeit our routines.

When you are willing to learn self-management, you will feel in control of situations, which in turn will help you maintain productivity. Think about that…the right qualities and traits will allow you to overcome situations that would otherwise cause panic and disarray in your life. How great is that?

What traits and qualities are those, you ask? We’ve outlined crucial self-management touchpoints assistants can practice mastering.

  1. Quality of life is important to successful self-managers. They realize that the quality of their life will be in direct proportion to the quality of their thinking. We can take this one step further and say that the quality of a product or service these people deliver as an employee is in direct proportion to the quality of their thinking while providing that service or working in the product.
  2. Awareness that attitude affects well-being, judgment, and creativity is important to successful self-managers. Negative attitudes can be tremendously damaging. Positive, resilient attitudes contribute to our success in our day-to-day work.
  3. Uncomfortable feelings alert savvy self-managers. Instead of avoiding or putting off feelings of frustration due to an unmet expectation or poor communication, self-managers deal with the situation. They practice good communication and approach the individual with whom they are in conflict or disagreement in a thoughtful, caring way.
  4. It’s normal to want to feel in control of your life and job. However, you are human and there will be times where you will not be able to touch every project that comes your way and is deemed “priority.” The best assistants realize that it is okay to put problems on the back burner. By doing so, they are aware that they can tactfully approach projects to execute the attention to detail that’s expected from them.The same goes for your home life. You can’t be “super mom,” “super dad,” “super spouse,” “best friend,” etc. at all times. That would be exhausting. Instead of putting that pressure on yourself, communicate with your friends and family. Let them know you’re concentrating on the things that you feel need your immediate attention in a caring and thoughtful way. They will understand.
  5. Listening to understand is one of the greatest strengths of self-managers. They not only listen to a person’s ideas and facts but also listen to the speaker’s feelings and emotions.To do this, pay attention. When someone is talking to you, look at them. Notice their eye contact and body language. Take in their tone of voice as well as what they are saying. Listen with your body, turn toward the person who is talking, lean in, and make them feel that they have your attention.

Unpredictable situations that dramatically impact the workplace, affect productivity, and communication, will occur. Our Survival Tactics Series for Administrative Professionals During Chaotic Times webinar provides actionable information for common workplace situations you will encounter as an assistant. Through it you will learn:

  • How to Embrace a Warrior Mindset
  • Work in Tandem with Your Leader
  • Timely and Effective Communications
  • How to Be Resilient During Turbulent Times
  • How to Ride the Wave of Change
  • Self-Management and Personal Care


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