It’s the first week of September, and many readers are focused on getting back into routines with returns to work and school from summer holidays.
If you’re having a particularly challenging time getting everyone out the door and where they need to be this week, bear with me as I drop the “C” word. That’s right; Christmas- and holiday-themed event invitations have already begun floating across my screen – a full two weeks earlier than in 2015. Providers are promoting space options, and readers have begun tweeting about Christmas and holiday event planning.
With the big “eve” roughly 11 weeks away, and many corporate events on calendars for eight or nine weeks from now, many EAs, MAs, PAs and office managers responsible for coordinating such events will already have such parties on their brains.
Readers will see that this weekend’s poll contains similar questions to those I posed in 2015. My plan is to provide a comparison between readers’ 2016 plans and budgets with those from 2015 – which should give us interesting glimpses into how trends and practices compare year over year.
Are you ready? Here is this weekend’s poll:
How do you manage event planning for the holidays?
Please take a couple of minutes to complete the poll below, and I’ll publish results next Tuesday. “Select” whichever responses apply, and remember to CLICK on the “VOTE” ICON AFTER EACH QUESTION.
With thanks to all who participated, here are your responses to my question … Have you ever worked with a rookie executive?
46.5% of respondents reported that they’ve worked with their current principal for anywhere from one to three years. We also have one reader who works with two executives – one of whom became a colleague the day the admin. professional participated in the poll.
At the other end of the spectrum, 13% of respondents have worked with their principals for 15 years or longer.
That’s right. More than 53% of respondents said they’d worked in such an environment longer than their bosses, while the tables were turned for just over 33% of respondents.
Interesting, yes? 57% of respondents identified their bosses as having more experience within their current organisations. 36% of respondents have been at their organisations longer than their executives.
… and 56% of you saw that as an opportunity, while 44% found the experience to be a challenge.
You’ll find fellow readers’ comments in the data below. My own experience is that helping a green executive is energy intensive, yet it also accelerates accrual of mutual trust. Rookie or not, it’s common sense for a newcomer to tap into and filter the insights of a more seasoned colleague.
However, I’ve witnessed the downside of working with a green executive in times of corporate turmoil. Depending on your principal’s degree of political savvy and extent of opportunities to build internal networks, s/he may find it difficult to navigate tough times and corporate cuts … which may be detrimental to an assistant and perhaps others among her/his direct reports.
How long have you worked with your current principal/executive(s)?
Who has more experience working in the C-Suite or executive offices, you or your boss?
Who has more experience in your current organisation, you or your boss?
Have you ever supported a “green”/rookie executive?
If you have supported a rookie executive, did you see it as more of an opportunity or a challenge?
What insights would you share with a fellow admin. professional who supports a rookie executive?