From the other side....

not all bosses are ogres and most boss want people to succeed. One....a great administrative assistant is a tremendous asset and...expensive to replace. It cost ALOT to hire people.

So...what about talking to your boss? If you understand what his/her expectations are your life will be easier. Explain that you are a perfectionist and that lots of feedback...especially at the beginning will really help you. Ask what you are doing right and what you could do better.

Be prepared to accept any criticism as crisicism of YOUR WORK and not you and an opportunity to improve.

When I had administrative assistants I did not want to be bothered with hovering...but I also needed to know what was happening. Tell your boss when projects or tasks are completed.

I had one AA who...whenever I asked the status on something would say..."what? do you think I don't know how to do my job?" which made me uncomfortable asking and when things fell through the cracks...it was ultimately my butt on the line. When she was good, she was the best, but I struggled with telling her when there was a problem -- and that wasn't good for either of us.

Maybe ask your boss if...for a while anyway...you have a regularly scheduled time each week or so to sit down and discuss your work. It is his or her evaluation that matters...

and remember...it is your work you are talking about...not you as a good and valuable human being....

"Focus on the situation, the issue or the behavior....not the person."