Do you feel you have an indirect influence on decisions in your office? Do you feel your opinion and suggestions are valued?

I think I have a direct influence on decisions in the office. My boss frequently asks my opinion on things, and half the time I offer it even when he doesn't ask. I'm not the person who makes the final decision, but I definitely think I have an influence.

Currently, I am not in a position as I'm still the newbie.

Previously no. At interviews you are promised the world to entice you in, they want you to be pro-active, come up with new ideas etc. The minute you get hired and you do make suggestions, you are shot down and more or less given the impression your opinion does not count. That's because management do not want to look weaker or inferior so it's easier to put a PA/Admin in their place from the start.

Yes. The culture in my workplace is a collective one. We have a very "flat" and "hands-off" management structure. Staff at non-management level are encouraged to take ownership of projects. For example, we have done some work on our telephone systems, IT systems, customer service etc. For these projects, we have whole-day or half-day staff meetings, focus groups and so on - often with a facilitator - and come up with answers. I definitely recommend this approach because when staff feel they have a real stake in a company (even if they don't receive shares or bonuses) then they are likely to be more active in their jobs.

With respect to my personal opinions about matters, Bossie does ask me quite often what I think about this or that and I do offer them, unasked, when I think it is appropriate. Sometimes, another person's angle on things is a help, but I don't expect what I say to be taken up - it's great to be asked. I think that tact is the key thing. I've managed to stop awful things happening with the occasional tactful suggestion. I would never bounce around saying "Do it THIS way!" It's more my style to say "Do you think it would be a good idea to ...?"

And, lastly, as I'm also a trade union shop steward, well ... enough said. People do pay attention!

In my 20 odd years of working as an admin - only once did I make a decision that affected my boss - I did not do as told and in the process saved his job. Otherwise any and all the rest of my ideas have either become my boss' idea or they go into the "forget it" box.

Depends on the project. For anything related to my area of expertise, I am certainly consulted. I do tend to offer my opinions, if I feel they are valid.

For example, I raised a number of issues on a web based suggestion box that our company was implementing, and because I was joining rather late in the process, they actually ended up calling a special meeting with all the parties involved to listen to my feedback and suggestions. They agreed that my comments were not only valid, but extremely helpful and chose to implement those suggestions, even though it delayed roll out of the project by 3 weeks. (They had not considered things like the ability for a summary of all suggestions received, a breakdown of how long it took to respond to those suggestions, a system of followup for those managers that didn't respond in a timely fashion, etc.).

It is rare that my managers have not listened to my opinion. However, that doesn't mean that they necessarily do everything I suggest. It does mean however that they are more inclined to take the time to explain why they are doing things differently. They recognize that I look at the project from a different perspective and that I also try to view it from the end users perspective to avoid future problems. They have generally been very receptive to my thoughts.

I consider it a sign of respect and if I didn't receive that respect from a manager I would question that person further to find out why they were not showing me the courtesy of respecting my opinion, even if they disagree with it.

All that said though, I rarely give opinions on areas completely outside my area of expertise. For instance, I wouldn't tell a mechanic how to fix my car or an engineer how to design a blueprint.

To an extent, yes, but only in my department.

My boss is the "idea" person. I'm the "make it work" person. I've practically designed the systems and procedures in this department from scratch. I'm asked for input from the practical side -- can our software do that? how long will it take to do XYZ? who do we call for this data? I don't influence the overall strategic decisions, but I do influence how we carry out that strategy.

Like Misslynn, my boss also frequently asks my opinion on things and, like her, I offer an opinion even when it's not sought! As bossie has been here just a year, and transferred in from North America where things are not quite so formal, she'll use me as a sounding board for various things and I'm glad to say that she does value my opinions.

So yes, I think that I do influence decisions on some things.

Not at all with this boss. My opinion just isn't worth voicing anymore, recommendations or suggestions roll across the office floor like tumbleweed in a cowboy film!

Previous boss, same company ..... every suggestion or recommendation was discussed, he got me thinking outside the box, writing mini proposals for stuff (not that he needed a proposal he just wanted me to learn to write an effective one ;) ). He actively sought my opinion on things whether he needed to or not. I felt very valued and gained some valuable skills.