Administrative pros: What have you done for yours lately?

You know them, you see them every day running all over the office, and you have probably—at one time or another—overloaded their inboxes with your requests for a new computer, a better office, and a way to hide (possibly in their offices) from the local chatterbox. (Who, me?)

Who are they? Where do they come from? And why are we so tied to them? Why, they're your administrative professionals, of course, and the last full week of April—every April—is THEIR week.

So tell me: What have you done for your admins lately?

Often, what admins do is in the background and not completely noticeable to the rest of us. (Some of us have higher profile jobs, such as executives who talk to the media, developers who create a fabulous piece of software and get a patent, and oh, I don't know, popular online columnists.) So they don't get the credit, thanks, praise, and devotion that they richly deserve.

Well, let me tell you a bit about what these people do, so that you can start your appreciation motors running:

• They arrange all of your travel.
• They keep a keen eye on the team's budget for the fiscal year. (We may complain to them about that, but it's not their fault that taking care of customer support issues comes before your bowling morale events.)
• They schedule your meetings, organize them, and find conference rooms (where there were apparently none to be had) to hold them in. And let's not forget that they also make sure your meetings are not snack-less.
• They keep the office supply room stocked with exactly what you need.
• They prepare computers for new employees and make sure that your computers are up to date and working properly.
• They manage your calendar and your inbox (if they've been set up as your delegate); in other words, they're your own personal e-mail filters.
• They help you prepare and set up your presentations—even at the last minute. (You know who you are.)
• And, if they're like our admins, they send out high-importance e-mails to the entire team broadcasting critical information, such as "I have chocolate for the taking, right outside my office."

Must I go on? Yes, I must. Because sometimes the load of work these folks do can be overwhelming and frankly, I'm not sure they're getting the help they need.

What can I do for my admin?

A better question might be: Why haven't I done anything yet? Yes, your florist wants you to know that the last full week of every April is the designated Administrative Professionals Week. That's nice and everything, but I'm guessing that these good folks could use some recognition from you more than once a year. I mean, mothers get Mother's Day, but we also get the love and affection of our kids every single day. Same with St. Patrick's Day: When you're Irish, you're proud of it; March 17 is just a day to be even prouder. And International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19? Who stops on September 20?

So...here are some suggestions on how you can thank your administrative assistant or office manager (or receptionist...or any other sort of person who supports you and your organization) all year long:

• Secretly keep restocking your admin's treat supply. You'll not only make his day, you'll let him take the credit for it.
• Recognize her birthday. She keeps track of and recognizes yours; who's keeping track of hers?
• Get the team together and get him a gift certificate to a day spa, a bookstore, or whatever. A few dollars from a few people can go a long way to making an admin's day.
• Speaking of day spas...if you're her manager, yes, flowers are nice and soothing; a day off is even nicer. (Surely you can survive without your admin for a day ... or two? No? All the more reason to think about what she does for you.)
• And last, but not least, don't forget your manners: Say thank you—often. Daily. Your needs would not be so well met and your life in the office would not be so efficient if it weren't for him, her, all of them.

So, a big thank you to Nicki, to Debbie, to Pat, to Rita, and to the entire International Association of Administrative Professionals; I've been invited to be their speaker at the yearly banquet in the Seattle area on April 20, and I will thank them for all of us!

"He who is carried on another's back does not appreciate how far off the town is." — African proverb

— Crabby