Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
Complete the projects and tasks immediately and as quickly as possible
in the order they were given to you
There is so much to do and so little time to do it all. The best you can
do is complete each task as quickly as you can and as soon as it is given
to you. You work fast to get everything done.
Working through the tasks too fast leads to you making many mistakes, and
your boss is not happy with some of your work. Also, some of the tasks she
assigned to you at the last minute were actually the top priority. Because
you worked in the order the tasks were assigned, you don't finish them on
time. You end up working late to finish those jobs.
Mary Fisher has worked as an executive assistant for about 25 years. She
says prioritizing is a big part of working as an executive assistant.
"You need to really figure out what's important, what's the priority of
what to do," says Mary Fisher.
Fisher says communicating with the executive is a critical part of being
an executive assistant. If you need to know what is important to do now, tomorrow
and what can wait until next week, you shouldn't be afraid to ask the questions.
"You're there to help make their job easier," says Fisher. Knowing how
to multi-task and being able to prioritize a workload are critical parts of
this job. And communication with the executive that you work for is vital.
"In today's arena of more work with less people, the tasks
your job comprises may feel to you like everything is important," says Fisher.
"You need the help of your boss to determine what exactly is [the most important]."