Palestra: SECRETARY, WHY LOOSE THE IDENTITY?
What's in a name?
by Karen Nanninga
Executive Chairman
European Management Assistants
Who says that the secretary looses the identity?!
The identity has CHANGED,
that is a different approach!
The image has not changed with it, that is the problem!
The image is still the one of the traditional secretary.
Our Statutes said
already in 1974 .
'To create the image of the top secretary as an essential element of the management team.'
What does not make
promotion easier is .
The fact that the profession of secretary
is to 99.9% performed by women.
Therefore the status of the
secretary is much dependent
of the status of (working) women
in a specific country.
The difficulty with the word 'secretary'
The traditional secretary: a dying breed!
Role has changed: specialisations
Focus on job content and job titles
Confusion: do not mix job titles with professional name!
Secretary: all administrative professionals
Equivalent of 'secretary' is female
in many European languages
ACTION!
A new name for EAPS, European Association of Professional Secretaries
A realistic image - what helps?
Focus on job content
Recognition for different levels of personal performance
Certification of personal competence for advanced level
Improved secretarial education
Courses and training for various levels
More male professionals
Create a gender neutral image
Responsibility of Associations
Promotion of the changed role
Lifelong Learning
Personal development plans and job descriptions
Liaison with training organisations
Fill the training gaps
Our answer?
ACTION!
Only a joint effort can make change work! |