Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

I have more than 18 years of administrative experience in the corporate world, 5 as a virtual assistant/business owner and still have many colleagues working in the brick and mortar arena. In addition, I am active in the International Association of Administrative Professionals as a Division President.

Each year we honor those in the administrative field with Administrative Professionals Week and Day. For one day, they get flowers, lunch, and ‘maybe’ an educational seminar. In some companies the administrative professional is the lowest person on the totem pole. In others – they are treated like gold. Why the discrepancy? Who knows.

Administrative professionals can be some of the most highly talented and skilled individuals that actually keep their company running and their bosses sane. They have moved from the pearls and getting coffee stage to the project manager/jack of many trades stage. They can provide solutions to technical issues, plan meetings and events – and pull them off spectacularly. By keeping up with technology, administrative professionals can also offer companies money-saving ways to hold meetings virtually and reduce travel costs.

Yet, I often hear that companies do not value their input or job position. Sad. I still remember a response from a survey I took just a couple of years ago when an administrative professional said she was told in front of others that a trained monkey could do what she does.

As a virtual assistant and business owner, I don’t have to deal with that attitude. Why do we still have to deal with it in the workplace?

My hat is off to the thousands of administrative professionals today, tomorrow, and the day after.

You are amazing!

Happy Administrative Professionals Day!