The Hindu Business Line : CEO’s conscience-keeper

Sadly, if ever there is a community that’s been taken for granted it’s the secretaries. They slog for hours, often way past working hours, to ensure that everything is just right for the bosses.

V. K. Madhav Mohan

The glitz and glamour of corporate management obscures a little known truth: behind every successful CEO is the quiet efficiency of his secretary.

When the results are in and targets have been achieved the CEO basks in the glory of recognition and pockets a fat bonus. If he is a true leader he would surely acknowledge the contribution of his team; they too would receive accolades and bonuses. Ye t, it is the rarest of the rare CEO who appreciates, in just proportion, his secretary in cash and, more importantly, in thought and word. Secretaries fall between the cracks!

Bosses download every routine daily task, personal and professional, to a secretary. Prioritiser, travel manager, menu planner, meeting organiser, messenger, reminder service, everything-arranger… you name it and the secretary is it!

Watchdogs, gatekeepers

Not only that secretaries are the watchdogs and gatekeepers who ensure that the CEO’s precious time is neither stolen nor hijacked. And by the way, who helped the CEO with his follow-ups and monitoring? Who helped him get things done? The secretary, of course.

The secretary’s maturity, tact and foresight ensure that the boss’s most sensitive relationships are protected and smoothened. By filtering out rude comments and irate tones of voice from those nearest to the boss the secretary prevents a runaway nuclear chain reaction.

The weight of his responsibilities makes the CEO a very lonely person. He can’t be seen to be weak or even affected by stress. She’s with him during his weakest moments and indeed, during his triumphs.

She knows exactly how he will respond in every given circumstance. And so, in many ways, she is the CEO’s conscience keeper, and confidante too. By bearing the brunt of his anger and emotion she helps him regain balance.

Remember, you can never fool your secretary because she’s observing all your words and actions, every single minute of your working day. If there’s a gap she’ll be the first to know your duplicity. She’ll never articulate it but she’ll lose respect and trust for you in a flash. If you can’t earn the trust and respect of those nearest you, do you really think you can enjoy sustainable success?

Sadly, if ever there is a community that’s been taken for granted it’s the secretaries!

They slog for hours, often way past working hours, to ensure that everything is just right for the bosses. But they rarely get credit or even respect.

In fact, many CEOs and other leaders are not just insensitive but downright cruel to their secretaries!

Some searching questions

If you are a CEO or top manager who relies on a secretary for everything, ask yourself the following searching questions:

When you have lunch do you ensure that the secretary has lunch too?

When she stays late do you organise a cup of tea and do you arrange to drop her home?

Do you know anything about her family?

Do you appreciate her often, in writing and in public for good work?

Do you tell her that she is trusted and respected and then actually show her that you mean it by your action and behaviour?

Are you treating her like a doormat?

Do you seek her ideas?

Are you traumatising her by shouting at her all the time?

Do you sit down with her and give her feedback calmly and constructively?

When did you last do her performance appraisal?

What commitment do you have to train and grow her in her career?

Are you expecting her to remain forever as a secretary, your secretary?

Why don’t you involve her as a rapporteur and note taker for important meetings?

How about teaching her to make important decisions on her own and then empowering her?

Do you think she trusts you?

If you are a CEO or top manager here’s how you can make a change in your mindset vis-À-vis your secretary. Change your perspective from boss-secretary to buddy a la the US Marine Corps. In the US Marine Corps every marine is paired with another marine, a buddy who will literally die for him on the battlefield.

The CEO or top manager is a professional and so is his secretary. Together, with mutual respect, they can be an unbeatable team.

TheLonelyCEO@gmail.com

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