Admin Meetings

[copyboy007]

Oh hoh ho!

 CopyBoy007
DeskDemon Forum Board Staff

[nextira]

I have taken the lead to communicate with my team which consists of 13 Administrative Assistance.   We have a 1-hour conference call every other week.
During the call, I give them a heads-up on things coming down the pike, I tell them "who's who", and I let them bring up any concerns they may have (including rumors).  After the call, I send all of the a written summary via e-mail of each topic along w/contact numbers (if we did a who's who), etc... I also try to tack on
a inpirational quote or book advice.  On one occassion I even suggested this web-site.  The benefit from this is that the Assistance feel like a team, I get less calls, and they are better able to support their team.

Let me know if you have any further questions, I am happy to help out.
Good luck.

[oldfashionedgirlfriday]

I too am at a company where there has been an effort made to have monthly Admin Meetings.  When I first started here they were led by the Executive Admin.  At that point they were - how to do things her way and what you all have done wrong  - sessions.  Which means they did not last long.  
After awhile HR tried to establish monthly meetings.  Now it was a case of several of us have titles of Executive Secretary/Executive Admin and a couple are Department Specialist and are not actual admins - do reports and some of the admin things needed for their department heads.  So a couple of the 'top dogs' talked down to the specialists.  The meetings also got to be bitch sessions.  
I have tried to bring in articles (even some from DeskDemon) to share, brought in video tapes to enlighten....it has not really gone over big.....no one wants to take the breather and spend the time reaching for a level of excellence I believe is possible.  
Yes...I think they are very valuable.  They are a place to share educational stuff, to learn what is happening in the company, to work together as a team.  I really hope in the near future to work at reestablishing them....I have been working with the head of HR on some ideas.
And the idea of developing a desk manual is VERY IMPORTANT ! !   Again, I have one at my desk and have not been able to get the others participate in the exercise.
You have my best wishes and encouragement ! !  

[spitfire78]

I think admin meetings are sooo important.  We used to have monthly meetings.  In the beginning they were very useful and we resolved a lot of issues.  Then, they started to become gripe sessions.  Our supervisor finally put a stop to the griping, and they once again became a useful tool.  Then, she dropped them to every 3 months.  Soon after that she stopped having meetings altogether.  We missed them a lot and finally started asking her about them.  Her response - "that's just not on the top burner."  Kinda gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling knowing how valued you are, doesn't it?  Anyway, she has just been putting in time until her retirement for the last 6 years or so.  We have one woman here who started 4 years ago and has never attended an admin meeting - that's how long it's been since we've had one.  Well, our supervisor is FINALLY leaving this coming spring.  They are looking for her replacement.  Oh how I hope it is someone who actually knows how to manage people and that he/she reinstitutes the admin meetings.  Keeping my fingers crossed while I type...