Administrative professionals can be easily overlooked by colleagues and customers as simply a smiling face with a sign-in book. They are rarely of interest to clients, most of their work is behind-the-scenes and does not directly generate revenue for the company, causing them to often be mistaken for office “helpers” without any crucial responsibilities.

However, the rest of us know better.

Admins are the inconspicuous backbone of the company, undertaking multiple projects and responsibilities in order to ease the workload of other departments and supervisors. They’re the all-important gatekeepers that also specialize in calling, ordering, organizing, scheduling, collating, recording, reporting, writing and every other “-ing” that keeps our offices running smoothly each and every day. While some of these tasks seem menial, many companies include their admins in important decisions, training new associates, troubleshooting IT issues, installing new software, and even supervising certain employees or departments. These are all tasks that require insight, critical thinking, interpersonal skills, management skills, and a strong work ethic – skills that are hardly menial.

When you see your admin(s) today, remember to give them a hug or a high five! We would be lost without them, and they certainly should not be overlooked!