This morning, I got tagged in a post on LinkedIn. Naturally, I clicked—and before I knew it, I had scrolled through pages of posts. Some were insightful. Others? Not so much. It was a timely reminder of something I’ve been observing more frequently in our profession: the increasing difficulty of distinguishing signal from noise.
As administrative professionals, we are wired for attentiveness. We are trained to pick up on subtle cues, anticipate needs, and respond with precision. But in today’s fast-moving digital world, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, the sheer volume of content can make it hard to know what deserves our focus—and what is simply a distraction.
Here’s what I mean.
1. “Don’t tell stories.”
This is one of the first principles in the book Crucial Conversations, and it’s one I often revisit. It’s the idea that we must stop assigning intent where we don’t have facts. When we read a comment, an email, or a post, it’s easy to assume tone or motive and immediately react. But unless we’ve had a real conversation, we’re often just making up stories to fill in the blanks.
Lately, I’ve seen some posts from influencers that take this to an extreme. They interpret a job posting, a company’s email, or someone’s comment—without context—and then build entire narratives around what they think it means. And because the algorithms love engagement, those emotional interpretations often spread far and wide.
2. Manufactured outrage.
This brings me to my second point. Years ago, when my husband would watch ESPN in the mornings, I’d glance at the TV and ask, “So what’s the made-up controversy today?” It became a running joke between us. And yet I now see the same thing happening in some of our professional circles.
Some posts are intentionally provocative—designed to spark debate or generate likes and shares—not to provide clarity or practical support. The result? A lot of noise. And that noise can drown out the meaningful conversations we should be having about our careers, our goals, and the very real challenges we face.
Why This Matters
As EAs and administrative professionals, your time and attention are valuable. You can’t afford to spend your energy reacting to every post or discussion that stirs the pot but leads nowhere. Instead, focus on the signal—the voices and content that offer clarity, education, solutions, and forward momentum.
Engage in conversations that build up, not tear down. Share ideas that move your team, your organization, and your career forward. And when something doesn’t sit right, pause. Ask questions. Seek understanding. Avoid adding fuel to a fire that doesn’t actually serve you.
If something truly needs to be addressed, let’s approach it with professionalism, integrity, and solutions—not sensationalism.
You Have a Choice
In a profession where it can sometimes feel like we’re underappreciated or misunderstood, it’s easy to slip into a “woe is me” mindset. But here’s the truth: you are not powerless. You can choose how you show up, where you focus your energy, and what conversations you engage in. Victim thinking will keep you stuck. But intentional, proactive thinking opens doors. When you shift from “they don’t value me” to “how can I add value in a visible, strategic way?”—you take back control and become a catalyst for change.
In a world full of noise, let’s choose to be the signal.
