It’s common to be a little underappreciated as a secretary. If you want to stand out in your field, you’ll need to deliver such exceptional service that the people around you can’t help but “wow” at your performance. If you’re ready to rise to the top, here are just four tips for becoming a better secretary!

1. Invest in High-Quality Equipment

It’s hard to be the best when you’re operating with sub-par equipment. It’s like trying to run an Olympic mile when you don’t have shoes. Ask your boss if you can set aside a little of the budget to order some transcription machines or organizational supplies. With the right tools, who knows what you can achieve?

2. Put Your Desk in Order

Speaking of organization, it’s one of the foundations of being a good secretary. You can’t expect to excel at your job if you’re constantly losing pens or misplacing files. Even if your boss doesn’t approve those funds for new organizational tools, you can always make an effort to be tidier at your desk. You don’t need fancy gear to keep things clean.

3. Improve Your Typing Ability

While there’s no set standard for typing skills, you won’t be considered a good secretary if you can only peck 50 words per minute. A better goal is something like 100 or even 150 words per minute. Fortunately, you can practice with software like UltraKey. It will whip your fingers into shape until you can type faster than a speeding bullet!

4. Ask for Feedback

Last but certainly not least, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. Your boss should be pleased that you’re seeking self-improvement. Just make sure that you take their criticisms to heart without getting angry or offended. You can’t ask for a performance review and get upset if the results aren’t what you wanted!

These are just a few ways to improve your skills as a secretary. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it! Use these tips to make sure that you’re doing it at your fullest potential.