In the past decade the typical day for an admin is no longer typing letters and memos, making coffee and filing. Admins today may be expected to plan planning meetings and events, coordinate coordinating projects, use desktop publishing, display leadership, and liaison between staff and management and much more.

Many admins ask how they can become an exceptional admin, an admin that exceeds expectations. To be exceptional one must go beyond mediocrity. Good enough is simply, not good enough. Here are some tips that may help you go beyond a mediocre admin and excel into an exceptional admin.

Work with your boss not for your boss. Build a partnership. Observe your managers likes and dislikes. Sit down and ask your boss how they would like things done. Take notes so you know who your boss talks to and who those people are. Be proactive and try to anticipate your bosses needs and possible situations where things may not go as planned. When something has gone wrong and you have to inform your boss, try to bring solutions as well. Keep your boss informed and build a trust where in time you are able to make decisions you know your boss would agree with. If you get to know your boss on a more personal level, you can better tailor your work habits to meet their needs.

Give exceptional customer service. Look at who your clients are. You may have external clients but your boss, co workers and company are your customers as well. When you finish a project, make sure it is accurate. Try to go beyond satisfactory. When producing a report, try making it nicely formatted. When making travel arrangements, possibly include a list of restaurants and emergency numbers of the area your client is traveling. If you have a manager who has meetings back to back, try to schedule a half hour of do not disturb time. When you dont have the answer to someones question, let them know you will get back to them and get back to them in a timely manner with either the answer or a reference on who can answer their question. Dont simply complete the task. If its within the correct context, address those small details. It will bring a pleasant surprise to those you assist. Do that little something extra when you can.

Perform active listening. Active listening is a form of listening and responding that focuses the attention on the speaker. Take the time to actively listen to people with your full attention. Dont interrupt or jump to conclusions. Be able to repeat what you have heard. If you dont understand a point or and issue ask them to clarify. Always ask for clarity. Keep focused. Listen to what is being said, not what you think or would like to be said. Listen attentively then respond with your comments and feelings. If you want to have full coverage of every detail, you have to be able to pick them up in a conversation.

Never stop learning. Expand your mind. Learning is not limited to going back to school. Read, read, and read. Read up on the newest technologies, what is new for computers hardware and software, read reviews all the newest toys and gadgets for the office. Read about your chosen industry. Read the newspaper and keep up on world events. Keep a journal of your thoughts on all you learn. Attend a seminar or conference. Take a college course. With a world that is changing as fast as it is, to be exceptional we must know what is out there and how to handle what is coming in the future. The only way to achieve this is through education, either formal or informal.

Have a positive outlook and attitude. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle. Make it a habit to be the best you can. Take pride in your appearance and like who you are. Smile at others and try to look at the positives in what you do in your job and your life. When you find something has gone wrong, evaluate the problem and see if you can reverse it from a negative into a positive. An example may be a co-worker is out for three days sick and you have to pitch in and help with their project, instead of complaining how it is extra work try to look at it as helping out a co-worker and being a team player. Remember, your outlook and attitude reflects on how others perceive you and your abilities.

Being exceptional is a package deal. Attaining excellence in one aspect of you or your position will not make you an exceptional admin. It takes a well rounded effort in all aspects of your job, both personal and professional. Dont stop at the tips listed here. Think about your job. It is unique and no one else does your job. How can you add to this list? Each person will have their own map to success. Why not take a take a moment to create your own personal list of tips to what you can do to make you the exceptional admin you can and will be.