Recently, after presenting a webinar for administrative professionals, I received a question from an HR professional who had participated in the event. She wrote, “We have a few admins here whose daily workload fluctuates between multiple supervisors.  There is rarely good direction about juggling the competing needs of multiple folks.  Any suggestions?”

I realized that working for multiple bosses has become the new normal for many working Americans. The corporate environment isn’t hiring, but the workload is still there. Administrative support staff is being stretched thin and it looks like that’s the way it’s going to be for a while. Most administrative professionals aren’t complaining about the increased workloads because they’re simply happy to be counted among the employed these days. But, still, the stress of managing multiple projects and responsibilities for multiple supervisors needs to be addressed. Without a few new skills and systems put in place there’s sure to be a catastrophic workday when priorities collide, and it won’t be pretty.

If you’re juggling projects and priorities, and trying to please multiple “masters” at work, read ”Five Ideas for Making Multiple Bosses Happy.” They’re posted at Associated Content in, “When Everyone is Your Boss (Or, Thinks They Are).”