According to Jack Hawley, “good management is the act of getting the most out of people, more budget, more profit, more productivity. The management mindset is to get something for everything that you give. Leadership, on the other hand, is an act of giving.”

This differentiation is important to remember when working with an administrative assistant. A manager would emphasize the “assistant” part of the title, trying to utilize skills and time to achieve the best productivity. On the other hand, a leader would view an administrative assistant as another key team member and as another human being with personal values and goals. He or she would give the necessary time, support, and resources to help the administrative assistant succeed.

Thank you to Robert W. Bly for his contribution to this article.