Joan Burge

Employees tend to think that their career is guided by the company’s job description for their role and they have to follow the path that the company designed for that profession. This is true, to a point. If being an administrative or Executive Assistant or even Chief of Staff is your career of choice, then you need to design your path with intent. You take an active role.

When you design your career with intent, you:

• think strategically about your next steps
• position yourself in front of the right people
• selectively say “yes” to available positions
• are a life-long learner
• keep your eyes open for opportunities
• do research about your profession so you have facts to back you up
• speak up within your organization about changes the organization must make to administrative titles and job descriptions

When you design your career, you will gain greater satisfaction, feel engaged in your job, have a sense of control, and create an upward spiral.

Learning Outcomes

• Think strategically about your next steps
• Be selective in positions you accept
• Position yourself in front of the right people

Do your brilliant ideas fall on deaf ears in the workplace? Do your requests for important training and development go unfulfilled? Do you often feel pushed around regarding deadlines and priorities – like others call the shots even when you know you have a better solution?

If so, you’re like the majority of administrative professionals: You have yet to hone your negotiation skills and harness the power of persuasion. These are
advanced skills that even experienced professionals struggle with, but they’re also vitally important for your career. They impact your reputation, the value you’re able to contribute, and, ultimately, your ability to get what you want, need, and deserve in the workplace.

Learning Outcomes

• How to identify and articulate objectives for your requests and why it’s a critical first step in creating your “value proposition.”
• Why putting yourself in the other person’s shoes is your best strategy for getting buy-in with your ideas and simple ways to do it.
• How to work around barriers instead of backing down at the first sign of resistance.
• What to do when the answer is “no” – even when you’ve sincerely done your best “sales” job.

Resilience is like a palm tree. Although they look strong and invincible, they endure storms, high winds, scorching sun and drought. But palms do not fall, even when the storm blows – ruffling and beating the branches. Wind and weather pass, but the palm is impervious.

No one is immune to life’s challenges and setbacks. No matter whom you are, challenges will find you. You aren’t immune through education, credit limits, genetics or good luck. Resilience can be learned.

Learning Outcomes

In this dynamic session, Joan Burge will tell you how and why you need to develop resilience.

• Prepare for challenges in advance, during periods of calm.
• Create intentions for future success by planning responsive strategies to challenges and setbacks.
• View resilience as an expandable skill.
• Communicate in a candid and courageous way in the face of difficulty.
• Exert control of situations.
• Bounce back powerfully by expanding your willingness to change.
• See the world in a positive way but remain grounded in reality.