Admin Appreciation Day, celebrated every April, was established to recognize these individuals’ unique and critical roles in moving the business forward. And as companies grow and change, more professionals fall under this umbrella term. One type of these professionals are admin assistants. Your office may call them an administrator, coordinator, assistant, or business manager, but you may know them as the backbone of the business.
They are behind-the-scenes heroes who set schedules, order supplies and keep presentations polished. Without them, your organization won’t function nearly as efficiently as it could. As the front-line facing persona of a company, administrative professionals hold an unshakeable attitude of professionalism, hospitality and productivity. Great admins also have an innate — almost magical — ability to anticipate the needs off and effortlessly coordinate pieces into place. And they can do it all without breaking a sweat.
Since these collaborators play such a significant role in your company’s success, how can you appropriately acknowledge their contributions, give meaningful recognition, and ensure they stay for the long haul? Here are our suggestions on supporting your team and giving an admin appreciation gift they’ll remember all year long.
Recognize and Encourage Admin Growth
The job responsibilities of administrative assistants and coordinators have evolved over the last decade. Administrative assistants and administrative coordinators must self-adjust their roles consistently — especially as business and workforce demands change. In the past few years, many admins have worked harder than ever to run offices that now cease to exist. Businesses are scaling up in cost, health, and safety management to remain competitive and adapt quickly to changing needs.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen an increase in hybrid and remote work structures. Because of this, your admins may have taken on new responsibilities and challenges that would have otherwise been out of reach — or years away from happening, at least. Due to pandemic stressors, much of the corporate world needed to pivot countless times to stay afloat. As a result, administrative professionals often stepped into managing the responsibility of brand advocacy, contingency, physical safety and emergency planning.
Now would be a great time to check in on your admin team and consider their unique career paths, goals and aspirations. Gaining this insight is a great way to see how you can support their growth.
Create an Environment That Appreciates Admins Everyday, Not Just on Admin Appreciation Day
Even with a multitude of communication channels at our fingertips, we often fall short of recognizing quality work on a consistent basis. It should happen far more often than only Admin Appreciation Day. Administrative assistants are often tasked with a range of duties that rarely get noticed. And that’s despite the fact that their role is vital to carry out an organization’s day-to-day operations. Implementing intrinsic motivation in communication can uplift employee creativity and create a purpose-driven environment with loyalty, higher engagement and work-life satisfaction.
Administrative staff members are one of the best resources to tap into when pursuing internal changes, as they often touch (and hold knowledge about) many different aspects of an organization. By bringing them into the fold of decision-making and integrating their perspectives into organizational change, you show genuine gratitude and appreciation for their vast skillsets.
Every staff member feels the effects of leadership committing to leading by example and creating an environment that encourages gratitude. Take a few minutes to email or reach out to your admin staff and say, “I genuinely appreciate your hard work.” It’s enough to make anyone’s day.
Make Your Admin Appreciation Day Gifts Meaningful
Administrative professionals deserve to be recognized year-round. But Administrative Appreciation Day is an important reminder to send that gratitude here and now. Especially when you consider how admins are usually the orchestrators in company-wide appreciation initiatives, it’s a perfect opportunity to surprise them with a thoughtful expression of thanks.
Here are a few ways to express gratitude:
- Write a handwritten admin appreciation day thank you note congratulating their success and effort towards the organization
- Recognize and celebrate the contributions of your administrative professionals in an internal-facing way, such as in staff meetings or company-wide announcements
- Grant bonus time off to spend with their friends or family (or however they wish) to acknowledge that your admins’ hard work affords others to have free time as well
There are plenty of other ways to show thanks — but these are just a few to get you started.
Admin Appreciation Day Gift Ideas
Of course, nothing beats the joy of opening a gift of appreciation. So if you’re searching for the perfect tangible gift for administrative professionals to send ahead of Admin Appreciation Day, consider sending one that not only pampers and treats them, but also gives back to the community in a meaningful way.
“You Got This” is our aptly-named curation of delicious snacks and treats perfect for surprising your admin at their desk or front doorstep. If your admin works remotely (or considers their desk a second home), this desk refresh is the ideal gift to remind them of your gratitude no matter where they are.
The Something for Everyone gift is sized and packed perfectly for sharing if you want to treat the whole team. With an abundant variety of healthy and decadent snacks, each one of your team members will find something to enjoy while feeling appreciated.
Whatever way you decide to recognize the administrative professional on your team, ensure that it’s genuine and truly thankful. Take the time to show them that they are an indispensable and crucial part of your organization’s success. They are worth it.
Image via Unsplash
