TRAINING YOUR ASSISTANT

You have things that need doing. That is why you are hiring an assistant. Anytime you have two different people, you will have different ways of doing things. Maintain a positive and nice attitude, starting out on a negative note rarely turns out well.

Individual perceptions. That can be the beginning of difficulties or it can be the enjoyment of similarities, an exciting adventure of meeting new people or a curse. Discuss personal preferences during the interview. Get an idea of how that person might handle being given instructions about something they may feel is insignificant to them, but, important to you. Even though some agencies may be training people to provide assistant Services, you are the best person to train your assistant to work for you.

When training an assistant be sure to correct them if what they are doing isn’t what you want. It is easier to change during training rather than later. Also, explain a few personal items such as: "When I get a little down or I have a headache, I get quiet, so please don’t take it personal."

Sometimes a good way to train a new assistant is to have your present assistant show how you and they work together as a team. This is effective only if that has been working well for you. Be specific about personal care and grooming. We all have our preferences about how we like things done and what is okay. Remember that you have the right to train the person the way you want things done. If your hair isn’t parted right, or your pants aren’t straight, continue to instruct your assistant until it is comfortable.

When you discuss personal preferences during the interview, it helps set the ground so that you don’t end up having someone who thinks they know what you need. By discussion, you and the assistant know how they are expected to perform on the job.

Some personal care, such as toileting or showering, may be embarrassing at first. It’s good to remember we all have to deal with this human stuff. Be direct. A sense of humor can help both of you relax.