Message #59659

[countrigal]

Gee, just a side-note.  In my positions in the past where I was the admin for a boss in a high-profile role, I did see it as my position to keep him informed of potential flare-ups or problems (even between employees) which might become their problems or come to their attention.  In my words to them, I didn't want them going into a meeting and hearing about it from someone else, especially one of their bosses, and not know immediately what was being talked about.  It makes them look ineffectual in their role as manager.  So you might look at this the same way... tell them of flare-ups that occur, what has been done to regulate them, etc, just so they don't get blind-sided if they are asked about it later.  This isn't "tattling" or gossiping or anything, but ensuring that you are keeping your boss informed of what is going on in the office while he/she is not able to do that.  This doesn't have to be negative... if employee #1 is having an altercation with employee #2 and employee #3 (or supervisor or whomever) steps in and resolves this, then you are reporting what good employee or communication skills employee #3 has.  The fact that employee #1 and 2 were in an altercation is the unimportant fact... the importance is how #3 handled it.  Now bossie doesn't have to deal with #1 and #2, who may have had an ongoing issue... #3 has dealt with it.  Or bossie now knows that the issue which he may have thought was already dealt with has not been resolved but also now knows how good #3 is at smoothing bumpy roads.  As an office manager, knowing how the office is running, including the bumps that are occurring, is necessary in order to be effective.  If bossie never knew that anything handed to #1 was always argued over, delayed, and ultimately done by #2, then bossie would be giving #1 credit for everything that #2 was doing and they would not be getting all the credit that is due them for doing #1's items as well as their own.

Also, if you know that an employee is having a bad day... it's always nice to share that with bossie.  Perhaps you know that employee X has recently lost a cat/dog, then you can share that with bossie and bossie can score brownie points by stopping by and saying a quick "I'm sorry to hear of your loss" and be a caring boss.  Good bosses aren't good on their own, they have great admins who keep them abreast of everything and allow them to put their good features forward.

Just another view on what is being requested of you...

CountriGal
Peer Moderator