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Editorial from the IAAP International President

Creating Excellence—Creating Value
Tips and Insights for Today’s Career-Minded Administrative Professional

By Kay E. Enlow CPS/CAP, 2005-2006 international president of the International Association of Administrative Professionals

“Creating Excellence” is the theme for the 2006 observance of Administrative Professionals Week and Day, celebrated April 23-29 in 2006.  In today’s workplaces, administrative professionals play a vital role in facilitating the flow of information and communication. They also serve as key front-line public relations ambassadors for their managers and their organizations. In addition, administrative professionals are increasingly becoming key contributors to work teams— and the lines continue to blur between management and administrative functions.

To create excellence for their employers, administrative professionals must be willing to take risks to develop our full potential.  What risks can you take to increase your value to your employer? Are your skills the ones that employers consider top priority today? Do they mesh with the changing economic and work environment? If not, then you’d better get busy honing new talents that will set you apart from the crowd.

Here are a few ways administrative professionals can demonstrate to employers how they add value and contribute to the bottom line:

• Know and understand your company’s goals and objectives. The most valuable employees are those who do just that. As communication hubs within an organization, administrative professionals are in a good position to identify trends that could adversely affect the organization or spark an opportunity for business growth.
   

• Study your organization’s annual report and/or the strategic plan of your department. Consider what you could be doing that you are not now doing to meet these larger goals. Broaden your scope— look past your office or cubicle and determine how you, personally, can impact the bottom line.
   

• Establish a network of professionals outside your company, such as the network available by being a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). Be seen as the employee who knows where to go for any information needed. You don’t personally need to know all the answers. You can add value just by knowing who to call, so networks can be extremely beneficial.
   

• Keep abreast of all happenings within your profession and your industry. Share pertinent articles from trade or professional publications (such as OfficePro magazine) with your managers and coworkers. The valued employee is one who can talk the same language as top managers.
   

• Volunteer for tasks anywhere in your employer organization. The more skills you have, the more people you know, the more willing you are to learn, the more you will be perceived as an asset to your employer.
   

• Cultivate a mind-set that says, “I can do it.” Reach out for new responsibilities, be creative in your approach to solving problems, and have fun in your workplace, ever learning and ever growing— both personally and professionally.
   

• Never underestimate your ability to contribute to your employer’s bottom line. Most importantly, be sure to document examples of your contributions and accomplishments throughout the year so you highlight them during employee evaluations and annual salary reviews.

Recent surveys show that most managers and supervisors realize that administrative professionals are valuable contributors to the success of any business or organization, and are well positioned to take on more advanced roles in the future. In addition, more and more employers are realizing that recognition and appreciation are important job satisfaction factors for their administrative employees. This is something positive to celebrate during Administrative Professionals Week— and bides well for the future of our profession.

As we celebrate Administrative Professionals Week/ Day this year. I encourage you to take pride in your chosen profession, embrace the “Creating Excellence” theme, and know that every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it...autograph your work with excellence.”

 --Kay E. Enlow CPS/CAP is 2005-2006 IAAP International President and member of the IAAP Hallmark Corporate Chapter in Kansas City, Missouri.

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