Ideas regarding performance

[officepa]

I'm stuck and would really appreciate some help please.

I'm being asked on a form we are all completing at work in connection with future training requirements "what could your manager do to help you perform better"? - trouble is, I can't think of anything to say.  We tick along during the working day with no major problems so nothing springs to mind of a day to day nature.  

Has anyone come across this type of probing question?

[gee4]

Yes, although my problem has always been that I could write a list!

So basically you're saying you have the perfect boss?  There's nothing he/she could do to help you in your daily role?  You say you tick along, but that could sound better in my opinion eg. we compliment one another well, we have the same work ethic, we have a common vision, we understand what's important and prioritise accordingly.

My list would look like this -

- Communicate better
- Have regular 1:1s
- Be cc'd on emails not just for info but to get involved
- Delegate more
- Be more informed about current projects

Sometimes depending on the nature of your company's business, we are the forgotten ones and are not always as well informed as we should be.  I work for my boss's teams who manage various programmes.  It helps me in my daily work when I understand the needs of those working on each programme and what demands their programme makes on them.

I think on this occasion, you are being asked how you could enhance your performance, and what contributions your boss can make to that.

[Jackie G]

I've edited the note above as Gee had used OfficePA's real name.

Everyone should note that if people use their own names in posts, you may use them.  If you know someone's real name and they choose not to use it on DD forums, then please respect that and call them by their user name only.

[gee4]

I just remembered office pa's name from her avatar.

[officepa]

Thank you Jackie for removing my name from Gee's posting.  I would rather my name not show but happy to be called by my username as I have pointed out to Gee before.....

Gee - thank you for your response to my initial query that was very helpful and appreciated.  BUT Gee - why have you now gone on to use my name again in the post under jackie's

[gee4]

Soooo easy done, huh?

[Atlanta Z3]

I think this is a fairly standard question.  Gee gave some good answers I would only add make traning available for (insert program of your choice) available. Communication is a standard answer and if yours is good with your boss I would not include.  Now is the time to ask for something you may have been wishing for but didn't know how to bring up.  Flex time, work on a special team, career goal etc.

[msmarieh]

(Moderator Hat ON)

I have edited gee's SECOND post to remove Office PA's name again. Gee, that was rather blatant considering you were warned just one post prior. Please DO NOT do that again.

[gee4]

Names tend to stick with me as I remember she used her own name originally.

Confusing as to what/how people want/tend to portray themselves.

[officepa]

Thanks Atlanta.

As I said in my original posting, everybody has been sent this questionnaire (has many other questions on it also) as, amongst other changes, the company I work for wants to start offering more training that people actually want but I think they have training in mind that as well as helping individuals, it will also help your manager/the company, which is understandable.

So rather than just offer Word, Excel, time management etc etc training, they are trying to tailormake it to individual needs.  This in turn will make the individual feel more confident in their work and therefore the company will benefit.

Talking to other PA's, it is strange how everybody has interpreted the question, some have put down things such as flexitime and staggered working hours but others, such as me, are thinking along the lines of training as in advanced Word etc.  I guess if your manager is happy for you to adjust the hours you work and you work more productively because of this, then that benefits everybody. 

A happy workforce is a productive one.  Not sure the request for learning ballroom dancing will be accepted as one lady has put down on her form, but you never know.

[gee4]

"what could your manager do to help you perform better"? - trouble is, I can't think of anything to say.

I think you've answered your own question here by coming up with training.  In your original posting you gave the impression you couldn't think of anything.

[officepa]

Yes, Gee - when I posted my original question I was stuck for ideas but since then I have gathered ideas from Deskdemon as I trawled through older posts as well as replies on this posting and from talking to others in my office.

[gee4]

That's good.  Hope it goes some way towards benefitting you.

[Jackie G]

Gee and others :  Guidance re rule of thumb in using people's names on DD

If people only use their user name and do not end messages with their own name, then please respect this and use the name you see, not anything you remember from previous avatars etc.  There are reasons why we sometimes use a different name. 

[countrigal]

OfficePA,
This is your opportunity to include some of the training that is more advanced or in other topics besides the standard Word/Excel/Powerpoint stuff.  Here in the U.S. there are training offered for PA's on a variety of topics through a variety of sources... check those out and see what they offer.  Perhaps your company can offer the opportunity (and pay for) all PA's, or some PA's to attend some of these courses.  I remember I went to one that was on How to Deal with Difficult People, Time Managment, and something along the lines of Managing the Unmanageable.  This was a 1 day class, where they had various sessions that you could pick to attend, customizing it somewhat to your needs/wants.  My company actually paid for me to attend AND gave me admin leave to go, so it cost me nothing and I gained some useful information.  Some of the tips and tricks I learned actually helped me step up into the management role I had for the past 3 years.

In a nut shell, take this opportunity to push some of the good training companies out there for PA's and see if you can't start a program where your company supports the continuous growth of their PA's outside of the Office programs.

Good luck!