NEW — Admin Month 2024 is here! Learn More ›
Are you in the driver’s seat when it comes to your career? We came across this gorgeous red Corvette Stingray today and, while I’m not usually such a patsy for a car, this early 60s model signified, for me, someone who was in control of his or her life as opposed to the other way around.
Have you taken the time lately to assess where your career is going, and whether you’ve reached a plateau? I’m not necessarily speaking of breaking through the glass ceiling or otherwise securing a promotion; while that may be something for which you strive, I’m posing this question as a caution. The root of the word plateau comes to us from the French, where “plat” translates into English as flat or dull. Does this sound like your experience in the office, or stage in your career?
Why do we plateau? Let’s consider that, geographically speaking, a plateau is a generally extensive land area that is, at least on one side, significantly elevated from the adjoining landscape; it may be a region of little or no change.
If you’re an Assistant who has consciously embarked on a professional development (PD) program to elevate your career path, or climb that corporate ladder, this comes at a cost. Whether you’re taking credit courses or undertaking another commitment as part of this journey, it implies sacrifice or trade-offs: you may temporarily forgo time with loved ones – be they humans, pets, or plants! For others, our commitment to exercise or personal wellness may be the first to take a hit.
Little wonder, then, that after the final exam is written or once we reach that goal we established, we may need to pull back a little and enter a relatively stable period in our professional lives. While I recall one ambitious friend, a former Administrative Assistant who barely came up for air while attempting to juggle her family life along with her job and the course work to complete her degree, not everyone is that driven, and something’s got to give. Many of us need a breather, and pause to enjoy simply having a bit of time again for ourselves.
Alternatively, your employer may be among the many that reduced hires or downsized in recent years, resulting in additional demands on your talents. If you’re among the fortunate whose organizations are growing and going from strength to strength, there are also stressors and additional demands associated with such growth. Once we’ve climbed that hill, and found ourselves a plateau, it may be highly tempting to simply stay put.
You may have reached a plateau if:
In other words, a plateau can also imply a period of little or no growth, or even a decline.
This article first appeared in Exceptional EA, a globally respected professional development resource for administrative professionals. Visit https://exceptionalea.com/ to find out more and tell her we sent you.
Welcome to the ASAP Circle, a community platform for peer-to-peer conversation on trending topics, professional challenges, and shared experiences. We even have designated spaces for weekly Tuesday Coffee Breaks.