Publications

The Executive Assistant of the Future – An Ethical Guideline, 2003

- See our Press Release Aug 2003

Excerpt from the Foreword:

Clare McGuire, Novell

In 1993 I came to Australia on a working holiday from my previous career as an auctioneer. I was lucky enough when, in my first role as a receptionist for a construction company, the executive assistant to the chief executive officer quickly became a mentor. Within a short time the EA had to take extended leave without notice, and I was asked to step into her role. This was a tough time, as the EA had effectively ‘run the show’ so efficiently for so many years that no one really knew the full extent of her role. (As you can expect I spent many long days and nights working and finding out!)

From this beginning I have continued my career in a number of administrative positions, working closely with senior executives, primarily as an EA. During this time I have been searching for training and development opportunities which were geared towards the administrative role, but went beyond the ordinary training such as software programs, telephone manner and so on. Then last year I came across a newspaper article which talked about the administrative role as I know it, and issues of increasing importance to the administrative role. The article also mentioned an upcoming conference, the inaugural International Executive Assistants Roundtable organised by Geraldine Wilson and Mara Ulms.

The participants I met at the inaugural Roundtable underscored to me the extremely high level of talent and professionalism of people in administrative roles across the country (often undertaken whilst also managing to raise a family and contribute to the community). It was held in an atmosphere that allowed everyone to contribute to confidential discussions on many of the issues important to us, such as project management, cultural change and importantly for current purposes, ethics. For my part, it was refreshing to learn that I was not alone, and that others were dealing with similar issues and concerns in our similar roles.

It is obvious to all of us that the degree of trust placed in us by executives, in terms of the extremely confidential business and personal information they entrust to us, contributes to the very close working relationships we have. We often feel (rightly or wrongly) that we owe a greater allegiance to our boss than to the company that actually employs us. Whilst company directors and other professional staff are schooled in their ethical duties, the participants at the Roundtable agreed that there was very little guidance available to us as administrative staff on our ethical responsibilities. From these discussions, the idea for this book was born – to hopefully provide administrative staff with some guidance to deal with situations in the workplace where ethical concerns arise.

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The AIM Bookshops in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne are carrying our new book.  If you want to visit one of their bookshops, see the link below:

http://www.managementbooks.com.au/bookweb/details.cgi?ITEMNO=9780975069219

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