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For administrative professionals, developing strong leadership skills is no longer optional—it's a critical component of career advancement and daily effectiveness. Leadership for admins is demonstrated through proactive problem-solving, taking ownership of tasks, and effectively influencing others, all of which contribute directly to organizational success and positive performance reviews.
Showing initiative is the first step in demonstrating leadership potential. According to Dawna Stone, coauthor of Winning Nice, this means being proactive rather than reactive. "Even if you aren't in a position to actually lead others, you can still conduct yourself like a leader," she says. This involves identifying problems and actively seeking solutions, rather than simply noting issues.
A practical example comes from Jaclyn Lamfers, a financial services assistant. When she identified a gap in her company's software reporting capabilities, she didn't just report the problem. She took a Microsoft Office course to develop an expertise that allowed the existing software to perform beyond its standard limitations. This kind of initiative directly contributes to the company's bottom line and enhances your value as an employee.
Taking ownership means viewing every task as your personal responsibility to the company's success. Leonard Homer, president of Essential Business Solutions, emphasizes that leadership is demonstrated when you stop seeing assignments as chores you were "handed" and start seeing them as "my task, for my company."
This is particularly crucial when managing multiple priorities from different stakeholders—a common scenario for administrative professionals. Demonstrating ownership involves continuously prioritizing and reprioritizing your work to meet the evolving needs of the business and your manager, showing you are in control of your responsibilities.
Effective leadership is less about formal authority and more about the ability to persuade and communicate. Herb Greenberg, CEO of HR consulting firm Caliper, explains that while assertiveness shows you own a project, persuasion is a more effective leadership trait. This involves understanding colleagues' needs and motivations instead of simply bossing them around.
"Remember that communication is a two-way street," Greenberg advises. "You have to communicate your ideas and listen to what the other guy has to say." This technique allows others to feel they are meeting their own goals while supporting your initiative, demonstrating to higher-ups that you can garner support for company operations.
True leadership is the synthesis of initiative, ownership, and persuasive communication. As Diane Gottsman of the Protocol School of Texas notes, a leader motivates others, makes independent decisions, and takes calculated risks. For administrative assistants, this is a daily practice. By blending these behaviors, you create success for yourself, your team, and your organization.
To develop your leadership skills as an administrative professional, focus on these actionable steps:
