"I Make the Difference" Happy Administrative Assistants Day

Remember the people who are instrumental in your and your organization’s success. A sincere and timely appreciation goes a long way. 

POINT TO PONDER

Arnold Bennett, the British novelist, had a publisher who boasted about the extraordinary efficiency of his secretary. One day while visiting the publisher's office, Bennett asked her: "Your boss claims you're extremely efficient. What's your secret?" 

"It's not my secret," said the secretary, "it's his." Each time she did something for him, no matter how insignificant, she explained, he never failed to acknowledge and appreciate it. Because of this, she took infinite pains with her work.

STORY LINE: I MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

In the early 1990s, while looking for a source of supply for our new design, I visited a potential supplier in Mountain View, California. As I entered the lobby and went to the receptionist to announce my arrival and register for entry inside the building, something on her desk caught my eye. It was a plaque that stated, “I make the difference.”

Soon after, when our host escorted us into the building, I noticed again that the secretary of a CEO also had the plaque on her desk stating, “I make the difference.” Somehow, I could not get those images out of my mind and spent the drive back thinking, “Do they really make the difference?”

Secretaries, receptionists and many other administrative employees are the first line of defense or offense, whichever way one wants to call it, when external people call or visit your company. In many cases, they create the first impression about your company, your organization and your team.

Administrative assistants keep office logistics in order and keep things organized. This allows other people to focus on their core jobs without interruptions.

I remembered what one great leader had told me in my early age, “They are the backbones of your organization. Having a good administrative assistant is having a big asset in your portfolio.” 
 

So remember these people behind the scene. What they do makes the big difference.

REFLECTION
 

In the first year in Industry in 1983, during one emergency need, my boss asked me to hand carry a purchase order all the way through management ranks for signatures. That was my first exposure to the hierarchy of organizations.

My curious nature caught on to two interesting learnings through that expedition…. The higher up I went in the chain, I noticed that the offices looked very organized. Further research revealed that the higher-ups had very good administrative assistants and they relied, or in other words, depended, heavily on them to manage daily office logistics. Yes, they do make the difference.

Comments

[Madhuri]

Growing up in India- my parents made sure we learnt some new skill every summer vacation. Swimming, Horse riding, Sewing, embroidery.- painting the garden gate :)... The one skill that was never encouraged was Typing. Because " Why do you need that ? Are you going to become a secretary?" When I came here for Grad school- I realised how wrong we had been on both counts. Typing was a life skill- without which I could not have graduated. And secretaries (Admins was a new word for me)don't just type. They are the ones in the wings, behind the curtain folks that keep your lab/office running smoothly. They help frazzled folks with schedules and reservations,they find you the perfect journal, they fix your sharepoint.If you are lucky to have one like ours, they will do what it takes to make your life a little easier at work.
So, Thank you and have a great Admin Day/Week/Year.

[eastcoast]

Great read, I send it on to my formed Ad. Min. and thanked her for all she did.