Celebrate Administrative Professionals Week With Flowers

by Wesley Berry

Published on this site: April 5th, 2006 - See more articles from this month

No doubt about it-you've got an amazing support staff and there's no way you could make it through a work day without them. Each and every one of them deserves a heartfelt thank you, but when and how should you do that? Well, lucky for you, there's an entire week that celebrates the magnificent work performed by administrative professionals around the world.

Countries all over the world recognize the last week in April of every year as Administrative Professionals Week. This special week has become one of the biggest workplace observances and is a tradition of honoring these hardworking professionals for everything they do throughout the year. Also known as Professional Secretaries Week, this observance was originally thought up by Mary Barrett who was the president of the National Secretaries Association (now called the International Association of Administrative Professionals), public relations consultant Harry Klemfuss, and the president of Dictaphone Corporation, C. King Woodbridge. The observance was made official in 1952 by Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer, but was celebrated in June. Then, in 1955, the date was changed to the last full week in April.

While it's true that good work etiquette calls for the appreciation of those who make success a reality on a daily basis, making a special statement during Administrative Professionals Week can boost workplace morale by letting your staff know just how important they are. A gift of flowers is an excellent way to make that statement in a way that even the busiest boss can fit into his or her day. And, to add to that great news, research conducted by Texas A&M University shows that flowers are a natural way to improve an employee's mood and increase productivity. The lead researcher on the Texas A&M Research team, Dr. Roger Ulrich, stated that when flowers and green plants were present, "People's productivity, innovation and creative problem solving improved-which in certain circumstances could mean the difference between mild and great business success."

Want to make your gift of flowers even more meaningful to your staff? Try these tips:

1. Take this opportunity to thank everyone on your support staff, not just your administrative professional. Include employees from secretaries, to assistants, to junior managers. Expressing your gratitude goes a long way toward enhancing employee loyalty.
   
   
2. Include personal notes with the flower arrangements that specifically state some of the ways in which the employee has personally helped you throughout the year. This says you notice and are grateful for the things they do.
   
   
3. Make Administrative Professionals Week your starting point for continuing great office etiquette throughout the year. While this observance is meant to formally recognize your employees, make every day an occasion to appreciate your staff.

Wesley Berry is the President of Wesley Berry Flowers, a successful multi-million dollar business that was established in 1946. He is also the Headmaster of the Professional Florists' Institute, a floral design school located in Michigan. Visit Wesley Berry Flowers on the web at http://www.800wesleys.com