How to get recognised within your organisation's awards system
When it comes to our careers, we all want to feel appreciated. That's why being recognised for a job well done is so gratifying – it lets us know that our efforts are noticed and valued.
Administrative Professionals Day has seen many in the industry receive flowers, cards, and other tokens of appreciation from the people they work with. But recognition for professionals in support roles is still not the 'norm' when considering candidates for company-wide awards. According to a large portion of this group, they're "just not considered" for these types of recognition.
A recent Global Assistant survey supports this sentiment. We asked if admin staff were recognised in the same way as other cohorts in their organisation. Only 15% of respondents said they were, which leaves the rest - 85% - feeling undervalued and unappreciated. Or, in the words of many executive support professionals, "invisible".
These results contrast with most respondents stating that being recognised for their work is very important to them, even if a small percentage (12%) feel they may not need recognition at all.
Knowing how to position yourself for awards, bonuses, raises, and promotions is critical. However, most respondents from our survey (58%) are unclear about what they can do to be recognised for their work. And this is a problem.
This lack of clarity is alarming. It suggests a disconnect between what administrative support staff feel they can achieve or contribute and what management or HR understand of the admin role and the individual's potential when hired as a personal assistant, executive assistant, or any of the numerous administrative positions within a company structure.
This disconnect is not surprising when you consider that, historically, the career paths available to administrative support professionals have been limited and hindered by unhelpful stereotypes. For many years, the career options for admin staff were: stay in your current role; move laterally into a similar position; or leave the profession altogether. This lack of opportunity meant that few admin professionals aspired to move up the career ladder and, as a result, were not recognised for their potential.
Fortunately, things are changing and moving forward in significant strides, not just small steps. The administrative support industry is evolving fast, the professional skillset now resembles that of an assistant executive, and there are now more opportunities than ever before for career progression. The industry's status quo has been disrupted for and by its professionals, but external recognition is still an ongoing challenge.
We can't begin to resolve this challenge without first addressing the existing disconnect. As an executive support professional, the functions performed are wide and varied. The role itself is ambiguous, but that doesn't mean the opportunities to prove your value and worth need to be also.
If you're one of the 85% of administrative support professionals feeling undervalued and unappreciated, much of the responsibility rests with you. Take steps to change that by being clear about your goals, what you want to achieve, and career aspirations. Coaching is available to help you with this process.
Moving through your workday and your workweek with purpose is empowering. Knowing what you need to achieve and understanding how your role impacts your leader's role fuels your confidence. The result will be a more strategic focus on your work, which will be noticed. When an opportunity for recognition arises, you will feel more confident to put yourself forward and, more than likely, have ready endorsement.
One of the final questions posed in our survey was how administrative professionals prefer to be recognised for their hard work. Financial rewards came in first but not by much. A very close second was career planning and PD support.
Professional development is critical for career progression, and what we see here at The Global Assistant is committed business support professionals taking charge of their learning and growth by investing in themselves. We are also working with companies that are learning to leverage their executive support talent. These companies realise that their administrative support professionals are a strategic asset and are making the necessary changes to ensure they continue attracting and retaining this valuable talent.
So, what's the takeaway?
It's time to address the disconnect. By being proactive about your contributions, you can make a case for yourself as an essential member of the team, worthy of company-wide accolades, career recognition, and advancement. By taking these steps, you can increase your chances for authentic, company-wide recognition, not just what might feel as a token measures, once a year.
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