Revaluing Administrators LO1712

Doug Reeler (dreeler@mickey.iaccess.za)
Wed, 21 Jun 95 15:08 GMT+0200

I have been contracted to work with a national, non-profit organisation
here in South Africa. The organisation is running a 3-day workshop for 10
administrators from their 5 different offices to "revalue" their work and
to develop better planning and time-management skills. I have been asked
to come in on the first day to facilitate, for the whole day, a process
which gets the administrators to re-vision/re-value their work, and for
them to take initiative to make changes back at the workplace, so that
they become more appreciated, more useful and more motivated.

I have long contended that adminstrators, secretaries and such jobs are
grossly undervalued particularly as people in these positions are at the
hub of the communication networks and filter huge amounts of information,
building up an unvalued wealth of knowledge. Allied to this,
administrators are keyed into the corridors, the informal life and gossip
more than any others - yet this access is seen as unimportant or even as
negative. The potential for enriching the culture of the organisation at
this level is enormous and I suspect that administrators can play a key
leadership role.

Unfortunately I have not really had the opportunity to really work at this
level in a meaningful way, so my theory is untested. I understand that
the whole organisation needs to shift its collective mind but I do feel
that such change can begin with the administrators themselves taking
initiative.

I would appreciate any thoughts on this as well as practical ideas of how
to design the one-day I have with them. 

--


          ,___O
         _-\_<;_
_____(*)/' (*)__________________
Doug Reeler - dreeler@iaccess.za