The key to understanding Administrative Professionals is to understand what motivates them, what drives them. In many ways, admins are very different than anyone that they work with, or work for, and thus a natural divide is in place that segregates them. This is especially true in companies that are male-dominated since admins are typically female.

Gone are the days when a secretary makes coffee, schedules conference calls and occasionally types up a document for her boss. Today’s Administrative Professionals are also Business Professionals, able to read (and create) reports, manage P&L’s, organize large events, manage multiple calendars and a myriad of other functions. The challenge is in defining the indefinable – what does an Admin do? The easiest answer is: “Whatever needs to be done.”

What motivates an admin? When you consider other business professionals, motivation can include bonuses, goals, career advancement, contests, awards and other avenues of recognition. Admins frequently don’t qualify for bonuses, don’t have quantifiable goals, are not a part of any contest, don’t qualify for awards and, unfortunately don’t get nearly the recognition they deserve. What about career advancement? True, some have high aspirations, but there are some who are happy to stay in their position until retirement. There are others who are devoted to their boss and thus hope to advance when their boss is promoted.

So what does motivate an admin? Simply this: The desire and inner drive to do the best job she can do.

When you consider that, you realize how important it is that an admin be supported so that she can have the opportunity to do her best.

This survey and your participation will be part of the research I am currently doing to prove (or disprove) a personal thesis regarding Admin Personality Types. I believe that there are two basic personality profiles that admins typically fall into. The important thing to remember is that these are guides, everyone is unique and no one will fit into a perfect box, but with a greater understanding of these profiles you (and your boss) can gain a better understanding of the admins you work with.

Neither of these personalities are better than the other, both can have great potential and be a great admin. But if you have the expectation of a Type I admin to become a Type II admin, or vise versa, you will always be disappointed. The best admin teams include both personality types so they can draw on each other’s strengths. At the conclusion of my research I will release more information regarding these profiles, at this time it is still in the hypothesis stage.

About MistiLynn
I am the Executive Assistant to a Senior Vice President of a Fortune 100 company with 8 years of administrative experience, 4 years with my current boss. I enjoy reading, traveling, watching basketball (Los Angeles Lakers) and a good bottle of Riesling.

For feedback and/or questions regarding this survey, please contact me at iam@mistilynn.com or follow me on Twitter.