Office Auntie
1 Jul 08
When job title conflicts with status
Dear Office Auntie
I am personal assistant to the senior partner. To some clients and even colleagues this means I am a secretary. But I am a qualified accountant and I stand in for the senior partner, deal with client affairs on his behalf and give him good technical support and advice. He and I are satisfied with my contribution but I lack self-confidence and people often will not accept what I say, insisting on talking to the partner, which annoys him and frustrates me. Please help.
Auntie says
So often job titles are ambiguous. Could you change your title a little to technical PA, or even technical manager? Mind you, a job title is what you make it. You have the technical ability: all you need is confidence. Confidence is how we feel, which affects how we behave. And behaviour breeds behaviour. Try this: stand in front of a mirror, pull your shoulders down and raise your head: the gap between your ears and shoulders grows, see how much more self-assured you look. Next, admire yourself: think about all your knowledge that others wish they had. Now scrunch your toes up in your shoes and, tell yourself that you add value to every situation. Do this at least five times a day for five days. When you are next in a situation that might make you feel vulnerable, scrunch your toes and the belief in yourself will flood into your brain. You will be calm, assured and confident and this will breed confidence in you from others.