Part of your job as gatekeeper is to say “no.”
Your manager’s time is valuable, and many people will try to make appointments when none are available. They will call to distract your manager throughout the day.
Sales associates are trained to get past gatekeepers, but you cannot allow them access. No matter how hard people try, you need to say “no.”
You do not need to be rude; you can offer to take a message if someone is insistent. Sales associates will occasionally attempt to sell to the assistant directly and befriend them. If this occurs, you need to explain that you do not make such decisions and explain that you will take a message.
Learn more about the art of saying no in this video: