Questioning a task or declining a task is more typically seen, from experience, as a negative and insubordinate action from colleagues and COMs (COMs = Company, Organization, Management). It’s rarely discussed, but there’s an unspoken rule to “not question the boss.”
However, questioning can look different to different people. Some (managers and/or admins) view questioning the COM as confrontation. In fact, many, in my experience, do. Recently, I’ve been working on trying to receive and deliver messages like that as points of clarification rather that criticism. It doesn’t erase the fact that receiving feedback like that is scary, but it’s a start.
As an admin, the working relationship is a two-way street with each person you work with. At the base level of most professions, there has to be a base level of professional decorum we all abide by. When that foundation isn’t established, the environment can crumble.
Questioning Authority
First, questioning people isn’t inherently bad. When you truly believe that, the tone of how you ask questions will automatically help you adjust the delivery of the question.
However, by removing the ability to question or, dare I say, decline a task, admins rarely feel they have a safe space in which to voice their opinions. In my experience, admins are already more sensitive to and aware of the multitude of negative outcomes rather than the possibility of a positive outcome of questioning a COM.
We’re almost trained to expect the inevitable backlash from expressing ourselves and our concerns more than thinking it’s valuable to offer our opinions.
Being an admin who doesn’t question is often perceived as being “better” or “nicer.” Being a good admin, in my opinion, is the admin who is doing their best to be honest and helpful.
Negative outcomes can occur because of a variety of reasons, most of which, I believe, are out of an admin’s control, but are reasons nonetheless.
“Do you question the COMs?”
Me? Glad you asked. Because of my personality type, I wholeheartedly believe it is in the best interest of both COMs and myself to feel as though I can ask questions. Now, has that resulted in snippy commentary and retaliation sometimes?
Yes.
But, as an admin, it’s my job to see things and perspectives that people typically don’t generally see. I feel like questioning is the right thing to do as my intentions are never coming from a place of malice – quite the opposite.
If I’m met with anger and an attitude when I’m trying my best, my resentment starts. Eventually, should it continue, I will eventually feel like I shouldn’t be there.
Story Time!!
In one of previous admin jobs, the owner asked me to drive him (he was the SUPER petty-type of COM) to pick up his car from the car shop, using my own personal vehicle. No warning, and with the clear expectation on his face that there was no way I’d decline.
I sat there shocked.
Was my car clean? Did I have gas? How far is it? What if I get into an accident? What’s on my radio? What does my car smell like??? Do I get paid for mileage? If I crash, can he sue me?
This was NOT in my job description.
Y’all, to be perfectly honest, I didn’t want him in my car. I didn’t want to be alone with him, much less on the road. Nor did I know where I was going, but I did not feel like I could say no.
I mean, you could see it on his face – the entitled expression/expectation of, “You have to help me. You have to say yes.”
The question was a public courtesy; the expectation was a silent demand.
I said, “Yes,” and many years later, I’m still recalling the negative experience.
Job Creep
It always starts with something small.
It’s not the individual task that is hard or time-consuming, it’s the fifty additional minor tasks that have accumulated over time that kill you.
Can you do the task? Yes.
Do you want to? Irrelevant. (Haha. Trick question! Sucker!)
Problem is: it’s still technically the same position you signed up for on day one, but now on day 200 or day 1,412 – the job has changed.
To clarify, the title and pay are the same, but the responsibilities have increased.
Often, the issue is no one seems to notice what you’ve done/added over time.
No, I’m not just talking about acknowledgment and recognition.
I’m referring to the fact that in most administrative positions, the job itself is rarely ever re-evaluated. I have yet to be in a place where a COM proactively takes the time to look at what the job description said, my actual daily activities, analyze if the description fits the task load, and re-evaluates my title and pay to reflect that. Hell, or even address it.
Yes, COMs can evaluate how well you’re doing as an employee, but they aren’t re-evaluating the job itself and the amount of work you do in comparison.
It’s expected. They consider your extra effort, time, and work as being a “team player.” You’re worthy to keep your job, but it’s not raise/promotion-worthy.
As a result, job creep can get out of control, and you have no way to bring this issue to COMs attention because it could make you look lazy, negative, and even ungrateful – not a team player.
Is Questioning the Manager the Only Issue?
Of course not. There are so many other factors that can both positively and negatively affect our daily work environment. However, this is important to note that the very nature of our job is not expected to question authority, giving us little options to speak on our own behalves.
We are all unique admins with unique managers working in unique environments, and that’s precisely why it’s hard to nail down what we deserve and should expect. Most times, our work environments are simply based on just one manager or the organization – for better or worse.
I say this primarily to express my frustration with how “the system” is often set up to minimize our profession, expertise, and voice.
I really appreciate you being here and hope you enjoy the blog!
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Photo by Emily Morter on Unsplash
