April 26th is Administrative Professionals Day, an opportunity for businesses everywhere to show appreciation to the executive assistants, administrators, and professionals who keep their company running smoothly.
Administrative professionals can often be the secret behind the success of many companies. They help pave the way for growth by improving company culture, streamlining business processes, and building powerful client relationships.
These incredible team members are highly versatile, agile, and knowledgeable staff members. What's more, their impact is constantly growing. Today's executive assistants can handle a broad range of responsibilities, from managing complex processes to ensuring teams can perform as productively as possible.
In honor of Administrative Professionals Day, we're taking a closer look at some of the core factors that make admin pros a vital resource in any organization.
The Amazing Value of Administrative Professionals
In many environments, administrative professionals can essentially act as the backbone of an organization. They can handle a huge range of tasks, aid in company initiatives, and assist companies in unlocking new opportunities with existing or emerging customers. Here are some great examples of how executive assistants can bring value to a company.
Developing Company Culture
94% of entrepreneurs and 88% of job seekers say healthy company culture is vital to the success of a business. However, developing and maintaining a good culture can be difficult in any environment. An executive assistant or administrative professional can help business leaders develop an environment where teams can thrive.
Often acting as the first point of contact for clients, customers, and vendors, they can act as champions of company values and assist in cultivating higher levels of engagement. Sometimes, administrative pros can even help organize team-building initiatives and activities, as well as workplace well-being programs and strategies for collaboration.
Transforming Customer Service
One of the biggest benefits of an executive assistant is their ability to bring a new level of quality to customer service. They can build personal, empathetic relationships with critical clients, communicate with them regularly, and get to know their pain points and goals. In addition, admin pros are experts at detecting the little details that can transform a good experience into a great one.
They can send a thank-you package after a major order, check in with customers about their needs, and even build rapport through regular small talk. They can even ensure they always have a client's favorite coffee and snacks on hand when they come for a visit.
Boosting the Flow of Information
Administrative professionals are expert communicators. They meet with executives and business leaders to share crucial updates with the rest of the company. They can also collect and monitor information about both employees and customers.
For instance, they can set up a gift calendar and make sure rewards are sent out automatically at the right time (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.). This takes the stress of preserving employee and client relationships off the shoulders of business leaders.
Unlocking Opportunities for Growth
One of the reasons administrative professionals are so valuable is they open the door to new opportunities for growth. These experts have a deep knowledge of the company they work for and can therefore pinpoint opportunities for expansion much faster than most. They also know how to respond to opportunities quickly and effectively.
As soon as an executive assistant sees a need not being addressed by the company, they can jump to action and start coming up with strategic, creative solutions. Not only does this help companies build better relationships with their audience, but it can also improve performance, productivity, and efficiency.
Leveraging Networking Opportunities
Perhaps the one thing administrative professionals do better than anyone else is building strong relationships. They unlock new opportunities through partnerships, sponsorships, and other networking connections.
They're fantastic communicators, capable of pinpointing the people who can deliver the most value to a company and exploring new opportunities. Some executive assistants can even help collect new leads or recruit top-tier candidates for an expanding team.
Increasing Productivity
The average employee is only productive for about 60% of their workday. But administrative professionals can help to unlock those additional percentages. They handle various tasks and challenges on behalf of business leaders and other employees, enabling more streamlined, efficient workflows and ensuring each employee can focus on what they do best.
Perhaps most importantly, administrative professionals can also help resolve potential problems that could be getting in the way of productivity and performance. They're involved with day-to-day operations, so they know what kinds of tools and solutions might benefit each team member. They are well positioned to suggest training strategies and set up development initiatives for staff.
How Administrative Professionals Increase Their Value
One of the things that makes administrative professionals so valuable is their commitment to deliver new benefits to the businesses they work with. Top executive assistants don't rest on their laurels; they're constantly searching for new ways to expand and evolve. Many of the best administrative pros enhance their value by:
- Being proactive: Executive assistants don't just respond quickly to issues and opportunities in the business world; they stay one step ahead. The more they learn about a company's team, the more they can anticipate the needs of their employers and colleagues.
- Staying up-to-date on industry trends: The business world is constantly changing, and administrative assistants are aware of this non-stop evolution. Top pros spend a lot of time watching the changing marketplace. They check out new tools and products which can make teams more productive, explore training options, and monitor market trends.
- Refining relationships: From sending employee appreciation cookie packages to staff members on their anniversaries to connecting one-on-one with customers about their specific needs, administrative professionals are always taking relationships to new heights. They know what it takes to make relationships thrive with vendors, partners, shareholders, colleagues, and customers alike.
- Developing their skills: Most of the top administrative professionals have a growth mindset, which keeps them constantly searching for new ways to update their skill and ability level. They often proactively seek opportunities to learn, whether developing new leadership skills or learning new software.
Your Administrative Assistant Deserves Appreciation
Administrative professionals are some of the most versatile and valuable people. They can help with virtually every aspect of a company's growth, and they're constantly looking for new ways to help their companies thrive.
Their hard work and dedication definitely deserve some recognition—and not just on Administrative Professionals Day. If you want to thank your staff for the administrative support they offer, just how much they mean to you, consider checking out Spoonful's Employee Appreciation care packages on offer today!
Alternatively, if you're an administrative professional, reach out to find out how we can help you manage corporate mailing lists, create gift calendars, and deliver personalized rewards to customers and colleagues!
