By GREGORY SMITH
Business Columnist

Secretaries' Week is here again. The days of having secretaries has concluded for most downsized businesses across America. For those fortunate few that have secretaries consider yourself lucky.

We would probably make more people feel appreciated if we did away with Secretaries Week and renamed it, “Administrative Assistant” week. Administrative assistants now form the backbone of most organizations in the world.

Years ago, I had a secretary and above her head hung this poster. It said, “Men who say it can't be done should get out of the way of women who are doing it.” This wouldn't be politically correct in today's workplace, but nonetheless it was true.

Over the years I've held many leadership positions. At one time I was naive enough to think I held the power and influence in my organization. I was wrong. Someone else held the real seat of power in my office. It was my secretary. Any success I've gained as a leader, consultant, and writer, could not have been possible without the assistance, thinking power, and skill of the almighty secretary.

Another memory of another secretary stands out clearly in my mind. My stepfather had been ill, suddenly passing away. I was out of the office in a meeting across town. Gail, my secretary, took the call from my sister. Gail drove her car across town and found me. Quietly entering the room, she touched my arm, telling me the bad news. Gail had many options before her.

Instead of driving across town, she could have called me at the meeting. She could have sent a driver with a note, but she personally assumed the painful mission. The remainder of the day was blurry, but what she did for me that day would never be forgotten.

Whether you call it Secretaries' Week or Administrative Assistant Week this is a time to get down on our hands and knees and pay homage to the people who really get the work done.

Secretaries' Week causes a lot of problems for bosses. How do you show appreciation for this person and be fair for the rest of the team? Gloria, my mother-in-law, owns a florist shop here in Atlanta. Each year I get a kick out of what some misguided bosses ask her to do with flower arrangements. I could write a best-selling book about some of the requests. For your enjoyment, I've outlined some of my favorite stories.

Story 1-A lady bank branch manager ordered 15 bud vases with one flower each. She insisted it had to be delivered Thursday because after she gave them to her secretaries she was going to take them back from her staff on Friday so she could use them for her dinner party that evening at her home.

Story 2-A lawyer's office called and ordered six bud vases for six secretaries. Like a legal brief, they hammered out the detailed instructions. They wanted a flower, a ribbon and a card for each. “No red flowers allowed,” came the order. It in no way could resemble something a husband would give his wife. “Oh by the way, we don't want to spend more than $6.00 each and we will not pay more than $5.00 for the entire delivery.”

Each of the six legal secretaries received their “non-red flowers.” Then the phone rang again when the lawyers realized they forgot someone. Sheepishly, another order came in for one more “non-red flower,” but they refused to pay for delivery. So they sent a clerk on a 30-minute trip across town to pick it up.

Story 3-The boss sent his wife to the florist to pick out an arrangement for his secretary. The wife was not excited about the task. She stormed into the florist in a huff saying, “she doesn't need these flowers. She is paid enough as it is.” Finally, the decision was made and the deal was sealed with her final words, “Make sure it dies in a week!”

I conducted my own random survey asking a few secretaries what would they really appreciate during Secretary's week. No one said flowers, they all wanted time off.

Gregory P. Smith shows businesses how to build productive and profitable work environments that attract, keep and motivate their workforce. He speaks at conferences, conducts management training and is the President of a management-consulting firm called Chart Your Course International located in Conyers, Georgia. Phone him at (770)860-9464 or send an email at greg@chartcourse.com. More information and articles are available at www.ChartCourse.com.

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