Resist to Assist

Today was bittersweet. For over a year I’ve been doing two full time jobs at work, acting as the Executive Assistant to the GM and the Marketing Manager. Daily I have felt like I am doing both inadequately because I’ve been overwhelmed. It has been hard to do either job perfectly and as a result of all the work on both ends, I feel like I’ve let people down. Some days were so stressful I came home and literally fell asleep within ten minutes. Other weeks were a breeze. There was no stable flow to the workload and I was getting really exhausted. 

Things all changed today. We hired a replacement Executive Assistant to take over assisting the GM and oversee the daily operations of the front desk administrative staff. I put together a lengthy training manual and prepared to train the replacement all day. Amazingly enough she seems to be a self-starter and was able to jump right in with a very positive attitude to familiarize herself with the work and create a process for herself. I was impressed with her desire to be in the position and her love for assisting high level executives. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am completely relieved that my workload is going to be much lighter now and I will finally be able to dedicate my time to the marketing responsibilities and new projects as I have wanted to do for over a year now, but I am also feeling apprehensive about the change. We all know from all my other entries that I do not enjoy change. It is going to take some getting used to not being someone’s assistant, always asking if there is anything else I can do to help, always restocking a mini fridge or cleaning a carafe. I am no longer the one running out to get someone else lunch or refilling their post it dispenser, wrapping their gifts, running errands, setting up for meetings. I find it really refreshing that the replacement takes great pleasure and pride in doing the assistant duties. I wish I still had love for that type of job.

I’m nervous about the higher expectations of my performance in my managerial role, but am really looking forward to the challenge of changing my way of thinking from being an assistant to a decision maker. I am looking forward to the process of learning how to diplomatically make choices, lead and work smart in order to achieve a goal. Today really was bittersweet, but well-deserved. I hope that doesn’t sound too egotistical. I have worked in a support role alongside a management role for a long time, at several positions before this job, and am really ready to not have to worry about anticipating someone else’s needs. I am ready for more responsibility and a more important role. 

Today was about growth, change, development, new beginnings. With each day moving forward I know I have much to learn and cannot wait for that education.