Whether you work in an office or run your own business, it is likely that you are familiar with secretaries and administrative assistants. Both of these job roles, as well as the individuals who fill them, require a great deal of dedication, skill and multitasking capabilities. Since secretaries and administrative assistants manage a wide variety of office tasks such as pacing incoming and outgoing emails, tracking inventory, scheduling appointments, taking messages and making travel arrangements, it is not uncommon for these individuals to become over-worked and become addicted to their jobs. However, it is essential to note that there are two key differences between a secretary addiction and an administrative addiction.
The primary difference between a secretary addiction and an administrative addiction is the type of activities in which the person is engaged. Whereas a secretary is typically tasked with performing administrative duties on behalf of the employer, an administrative assistant is responsible for a more strategic role. An administrative assistant, for instance, will be heavily involved in making strategic plans, researching prices, compiling reports, developing policies and procedures, and providing technical support to their coworkers. Additionally, an administrative assistant will often take on the role of project manager and coordinate the activities of the company’s other employees.
The second difference between a secretary addiction and an administrative addiction is the type of support the individual receives. Because secretaries are usually less formally trained than administrative assistants, they may not have access to the same level of support and resources. For instance, whereas an administrative assistant typically has access to a wide range of computer and software programs that can help them perform their job duties, a secretary is often expected to perform the same duties with a limited set of tools. Additionally, the availability of support systems for secretaries is often limited. In many cases, secretaries are expected to figure out solutions independently, and their managers may not have the time or capacity to support them adequately.
Despite the differences between a secretary addiction and an administrative addiction, both need to be addressed in order to ensure the individual’s performance does not suffer. In the case of secretary addictions, the individual should be provided with access to adequate resources to help them improve productivity and provide better support to their colleagues. Additionally, the individual should be provided with the opportunity to receive additional training or work with a mentor in order to hone their skills and gain more job-related knowledge.
On the other hand, in the case of an administrative addiction, the employee should be encouraged to take a break and step away from their desk for a few hours on a regular basis in order to maintain healthier work-life balance. Furthermore, the organization should strive to provide supportive resources such as comprehensive health and wellness programs and flexible scheduling that will allow the individual to get the rest they need without sacrificing their work performance.
Overall, while both secretary and administrative addictions can be dangerous, they are both markedly different. Therefore, when it comes to managing employees, it is important to understand the differences between the two addictions in order to create the most effective workplace environment.