Survey: Nearly All Executives Say Their Assistant Plays Important Role in Their Success
MENLO PARK, Calif., April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- For many executives, one key to their success is no secret: It's their administrative assistant, a new OfficeTeam survey confirms. Nearly all (94 percent) of senior managers interviewed said their administrative professional is important to their success at work. Among those supervisors, more than 4 in 10 (44 percent) reported their assistant's contributions are very important. The vast majority of respondents (91 percent) also felt support staff should be recognized on Administrative Professionals Day (April 24), a 25-point jump from a similar survey conducted in 2005.
The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,000 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees.
Managers who have administrative assistants were asked, "How important is your administrative assistant's role to your success?" Their responses*:
| Very important |
44% |
| Somewhat important |
50% |
| Not very important |
5% |
| Very unimportant |
1% |
| 100% |
*Respondents to this question included 947 senior managers who have an administrative assistant.
Managers were asked, "How important do you think it is to an administrative professional to be recognized on Administrative Professionals Day?" Their responses:
| Very important |
39% |
| Somewhat important |
52% |
| Not very important |
4% |
| Not at all important |
4% |
| 99%* |
*Responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding.
"Managers are busier than ever and rely increasingly on their assistants to help address business needs," said OfficeTeam executive director Robert Hosking. "Although it's important to recognize the efforts of all employees throughout the year, Administrative Professionals Day provides a unique opportunity to give thanks to a group whose daily contributions often occur behind the scenes."
OfficeTeam offers five ideas for recognizing employees during Administrative Professionals Week (April 21-27) and beyond:
- Acknowledge outstanding team members at a staff meeting so the feedback is public.
- Handwrite a thank-you note acknowledging someone's great work.
- Offer gift cards for coffee or the movies to employees who go above and beyond on a project.
- Feature stand-out staff in the company newsletter.
- Encourage employees to become active in professional associations and reimburse them for membership dues.
For additional ways to show appreciation to administrative professionals and other employees, download 30 Creative Ideas for Boosting Morale and Retention, a complimentary tip sheet available at www.officeteam.com/RecognitionIdeas. OfficeTeam's light-hearted "Recognition Gone Wrong" video series showcases examples of what not to do when acknowledging the achievements of colleagues. The videos can be viewed at www.officeteam.com/recognition.
In celebration of Administrative Professionals Week, OfficeTeam is offering a free webinar, "Using Intuition to Advance Your Career," on Tuesday, April 23 at 11 a.m. PDT. It will provide advice on how workers can use observation, analysis and similar abilities to help get ahead. Individuals can register for the event at www.brighttalk.com/webcast/8949/67763.
About OfficeTeam
OfficeTeam is the nation's leading staffing service specializing in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has more than 315 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com. Follow OfficeTeam at twitter.com/officeteam, and gain insights into the latest administrative hiring and salary trends at www.officeteam.com/salarycenter.
SOURCE OfficeTeam
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