Assistants Path In Russia: A Guide For The Profession
A book for and about Personal Assistants
Christina A. Maslova
First publication in London, 2017
© Christina A. Maslova, 2024
ISBN 978-5-0062-5747-4
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Reviews for the Russian version of this book
Irina Saldicco, Senior Executive Assistant to CIO of Enterprise Technology Risk, Morgan Stanley bank, New- York:
«Read in one breath, easy language and syllable, without tediousness and moralizing. Specific life examples give liveliness to the narrative. Very accurately formulated many of my thoughts and feelings about our profession».
Karina Kamergoeva, Executive Assistant to CEO at PJSC Sovcombank, Moscow:
«The book gives an opportunity to plunge into the world of a person, on which, although not everything depends, but very much in the company and the personal life of the manager. Absolutely unmistakable in this book is the puzzle of a personal assistant. This is the «matrix» that every PA must collect in their head in order to become the best.
I certainly recommend that anyone who wants to be a PRO in this business, have this book with them and go back to it every time when the «matrix» fails :) It always helps to find the cause, recharge your energy and only go forward.
This is one of those books in my life which contains a maximum of useful information for a person who is confidently striving to succeed. I can safely call it the leadership, job description and secrets of a professional. I highly recommend both to assistants and managers. Read within 2 hours».
Olga Schmidt, Vice-President for Legal & Compliance, Schneider Electric, Moscow:
«Ive read this book in one breath, as it was extremely interesting for me to look at the organization of the assistants work through their eyes. Sincere, stated with knowledge of the matter, and with a good message: the description of the profession, which may seem insignificant to the inexperienced reader. However, it would be a great mistake to underestimate the work of the assistant, and the reader will be able to verify this easily. I think that this book will be useful for beginner specialists, since it will help to place correctly the accents and avoid many mistakes in their work».
Kseniya Pavlova, Executive Assistant to President of Russian Union of Entrepreneurs and Industrialists, Moscow:
«Ready to sign under each paragraph! To be a personal assistant, how to be a wizard who, if you do not fly a blue helicopter, at least you will find the fastest optimal solution. This profession, infinitely interesting, needs you to be one step ahead, to anticipate several variants of the events development. It gives so many opportunities for education and self-education, here the main thing is not to be lazy, as you are standing on a space platform and before you are thousands of options, ideas, and beginnings. I also add that the book is written by a practitioner. I read some chapters, with a smile, recognizing myself and my actions. I believe that having at least a tenth of this information in my mind would save me from stupid mistakes, careless acts what I now call experience.
Its an excellent handbook, on my desk it will be for sure».
«This is impossible!» the Reason said. «This is reckless!» the Experience noted. «This is useless!» the Pride snapped.
«Try» the Dream whispered.
I never could write essays at school; I think I just had no ability to express my words on paper. When in 2013 one of my colleagues invited me to write an article, it was exactly this thought: «Try». Dont be scared. Do it.
And, do you know? Its a very obvious and funny thing for half of what we havent done, its just because we hadnt tried.
Im infinitely appreciative to all my colleagues all over the world for their support, lively participation and interest in my book.
And Im huge thankful to my parents, for their endless support and lessons to go only straight forward, never give up and do not stop on the way to dreams.
Foreword
This book is not about time management, it is not about proper planning, it is not about travel tools, etc.
There are a lot of courses, trainings and webinars that you could attend for those things.
However, I will give one small advice. If you want to catch a lot do not waste time on tea with colleagues ten times per day, and give up the habit of smoking.
This will save your precious time.
And just work. Step by step, task by task. And prioritize thoroughly.
I have written about what I know and have learned from working as an Assistant in Russia. For those who already work in this field, but have not yet fully understood what its all about and why he is here; for those who only thinks about this career path.
In this book, there are no instructions on how to make it easier for you to work.
I want to talk about what you need to pay attention to, if you still chose this profession.
And those who only think about starting work in this area, I hope, will help to think through about pros and cons.
Besides, the profession of an assistant is a unique platform for development, and if youre not interested to work on this position in long-term period, it can be an excellent springboard.
Because the position of assistant, in my opinion, offers you an education in management and diploma of being a top manager.
This position, despite all the pitfalls which exist, gives the opportunity to develop both horizontally and vertically, depending on your preferences, considering that you clearly understand all features of this profession and are ready for its not-so simple realities.
I was once asked what kind of unusual tasks I had to undertake in my role but colleagues, the job of assistant is one big unusual task.
For example, in any one day or week you might find yourself:
dealing with business owner in Australia if your manager wants to open beauty salon,
arranging support for participation in the Cannes Lions Festival;
baking the cake and then staying calm inside when your manager convinces everybody that he baked it himself, because he has led the cakes competition. And etc.
Its extremely interesting and complicated job.
You will never know what else you should do and what to learn.
And, if youre ready for challenges, and sometimes so ready that several times you will have only one wish, to quit and change the job then go ahead!
Christina A. MaslovaMoscow, 2017What I think about the role of assistant
I was once invited to speak at a conference for assistants and, as the topic of the speech, I was asked to talk about the peculiarities of working with expats. I have worked with expats for most of my career.
About six years previously I was already given a speech on a similar topic.
But, after these years, it became clear to me that my view has since changed somewhat. Yes, mine. No, not in terms of working with expats. Here, of course, there are certain issues which I will discuss later in the book. What I mean is that my vision for the profession has changed.
The topic of my speech remained stated, as it is. But as a result, I went out, and said: «Its all bullshit!» after which my whole speech was more of a motivational nature and was reduced to one simple thesis: «Screw it! Lets do it!» which was brazenly borrowed from Richard Branson.
Because there is no difference what kind of manager you work with. Either you suit to each other, or you do not.
There is a difference in mentality between the Russian leader and a foreigner; there are differences between the Russian company and the western one in management principles, in policies, procedures, etc.; there is a difference between the quality ratio in assignments more business or personal; or both.