Time’s Up!

As an admin, there are many things I tolerate in the commission of my duties.  Cluelessness, Obliviots, etc.  Normally I can manage around all of this, but there are a couple of things that tend to send me over the edge.  One of those things is meeting management.

The reality is when facility resources are limited keeping meetings on time it ABSOLUTELY essential.

The situation that I find myself in is difficult. I don’t like being a bad gal.  But I can be a spectacular Bad Gal if the situation calls for it.  Sometimes I need to knock on doors and remind people that they are running over and delaying other meetings.  I give them a  2 minute high sign.  If they can’t wrap things up in that time, they will then need to adjourn and table the discussion for another time.

When the meeting run past the allotted 2 minute mark, well then I get mean.  I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.

Here are a few helpful hints when running a meeting:

1. Be aware of your subject matter – Are you scheduling enough time? Do you have an agenda to keep everyone on task?
2. Know your people – Are they talkers?  Do you need to account extra time to accommodate?
3. Is the conference room you’ve scheduled booked immediately after?  - Be courteous to the next group.  They are on equally tight schedules.

If you can at least follow these few strategies when planning your meetings, you will have successful meetings.

More importantly, you won’t have me knocking on your door saying ‘Time’s up!’

Jenga!

Sometimes I liken my job to a fast paced game of Jenga. You know that game that starts out with a tower of wooden blocks, each player strategically removes one, then places it on the top of the tower.  The object of the game is to not let the tower collapse on your turn. 

The tower wobbles as you gently pull the block out of the position you have chosen.  If you’ re lucky, it is an easy block.  But if your opponents have played the game well, all you have left are blocks that are critical to the the structure of the tower.  Anything you remove with bring the tower crashing down.

The thing is that the inevitable outcome of the game is the collapse of the tower.  And so it is with my job. 

So many of my responsibilities and duties often rest on one block, one person.  When that block is removed, everything can come crashing down around my ears.  Does this mean that I’ve done nothing to shore things up?  Or make contingency plans?  Of course not, I’ve been planning for these moments so the impact is not as significant. 

It always stings when the blocks come tumbling down around my ears.  In the end, I always build a better structure

Calendaring

Calendar: A list or schedule of planned events or activities giving dates and details.

 

An Administrative Professional: Person who creates and maintains said calendar in a timely and efficient manner.

 

Executives:  The Spanner in the Works!