I am the boss but I keep getting mistaken for the receptionist. Help!

Dear Aunty B,

I am a managing director of a sales and marketing franchise. I am only 23 years old.

I have worked extremely hard over the last five years to get where I am today but I have found myself questioning how I should act now that I have made it.

My business needs to have a friendly and fun atmosphere but at the same time I need to be seen as the “boss”. Many people walk in and think I am the receptionist!

Do you have any tips to help me have a professional and mature demeanour without coming across as a bitch?

Thanks,
Made it

Dear Made it,

Good for you. And you know what? Stuff ’em. No matter what age you are you will at times be treated as the “receptionist”. And it is not just your youth. You are a woman in business.

I am running a medium-sized business. And when I tell people what I do, sometimes people ask me if I work from home. How to reply? Always with humour. “It’s squishy getting 50 people in my lounge room” is a standard response.

But there are a few things you can do to stop people embarrassing themselves with their preconceived ideas and stereotypes.

If I was you, I would seat a receptionist by the door. Get him or her to bring people into your office and tell her to make sure she tells people she is bringing them to the CEO.

Alternatively, approach people with hand outstretched (receptionists don’t tend to do that) and say your name followed by CEO and then thank them for coming.

Shake their hand firmly while looking them in the eye. And if they make the mistake? So what. They are the ones left squirming.

Enjoy your youth and be proud of your early success! Few people manage to be so successful in their own company at such a young age!

Be smart,
Your Aunty B