Are You a Supporter or a Strategist?
In today’s workplace, there are two distinct types of administrative professionals.
The first type serves as the backbone of any good organization. Reliable, organized, and consistently on top of things, they keep the wheels turning.
The second type? They do everything the first group does, but they work at a completely different altitude. Instead of just jotting down meeting notes, they synthesize what matters and try to think three steps ahead. They don't just manage calendars; they become fierce guardians of their manager’s time so that every hour counts towards the main goals.
Regardless of what their titles might say, these people are leaders. They have made the jump from tactical supporters to genuine strategic partners.
The question then becomes, how do you intentionally make that jump?
The transformation comes down to three core areas:
- Building Your Professional Brand and Influence: Leadership starts with how people see you. That goes way beyond basic workplace etiquette. When you're the person who can navigate a messy organizational change or make a tough ethical call, you're not just completing another task: you're building a reputation. People start to see you as someone with real integrity and backbone.
- Mastering High-Stakes Communication: Administrative professionals often serve as the nerve center of their teams. Information flows through them, including the challenging conversations nobody wants to handle. The difference between good and great lies in approach. Exceptional administrative professionals don't avoid difficult conversations; they engage with them using the right tools.
- Driving Operational and Team Excellence: What separates project management from glorified list-making is perspective. Successfully managing a project means seeing the whole ecosystem: the people, the timelines, the resources. When you master this level of operational thinking, you create some mental space for both leadership and you to focus on strategic priorities.
From Insight to Action
Developing this kind of professional presence and strategic thinking doesn't happen overnight. Good intentions provide a foundation, but real growth requires hands-on experience with new concepts, testing them in real-world situations, and learning alongside other committed professionals.
And a program like University of Virginia’s Leadership Excellence for Administrative Professionals (LEAP) Academy is designed to close the gap between understanding what you should do and having the confidence to do it. The curriculum tackles those three pillars head-on through a comprehensive, 12-session online program that dives deep into strategic influence, advanced communication, and operational excellence. It's built for people ready to move from theory into real, career-changing action.
Program Details and Next Steps
For those ready to make this shift, the LEAP Academy provides a structured path forward. The investment is $2000 for the comprehensive program, with group rates available when organizations register five or more employees. Professional development or education benefits from your employer may cover the cost of participation.
Live, online sessions run Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST. The cohort-based approach depends on connection and active engagement, so spots are limited. And the registration deadline for the Fall 2025 session is coming up fast: September 15, 2025, is just one month away!
For more information or to inquire about the group rate, contact Program Manager Mary Hall at mth8n@virginia.edu.