Wow, where has July gone?  It has flown by.  Probably because I have been very busy.  Everyone is super busy aren’t they?

In all that time, my loyal reader, I have been thinking about what I am going to write, knowing what I am going to write about but not sure how I am going to write it.

This month I am writing about the word JUST. A damaging word when used in the context that I am about to speak about. 

JUST is not a word that you should be putting in front of your job title.  I have been guilty of doing this for a lot of my career, and why have I been doing this…. I don’t know?

Yes, I have always been an administrator of some type… of many types, truth be told.  I am 50 and only now with hindsight am I starting to think… hold on a minute…  I am not JUST anything.  My experience has a high value.

I am a Personal Assistant.  I am the Personal Assistant to the Managing Director and I have worked very hard to get to this point.  So why on earth did I catch myself recently describing myself as JUST a Personal Assistant?  Where does this come from?

I was speaking with a colleague in this industry only recently and she has achieved great things and I  admire her career path ….  We were talking about her role, and she again referred to how she wasn’t technical.  Like she had to admit this ‘embarrassing’ fact.  I think this is another form of the JUST syndrome.  She is incredibly successful at what she does.  But because our industry is based on technology and engineering, why did she feel the need to make her role sound smaller?  Absolutely not acceptable!  Also, her role is massive!  And her impact is great.

I think people in administration roles can often feel less than and I think that is a real shame.  I want to big up the people in supporting roles.  SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL.  We are busy with our normal tasks and anything extra that may pop up: planning events, travel, Health and Safety, Fire Safety, accounting, Sales, HR and project managing.  The random and unplanned: Roof leaks, any kind of machinery that breaks, administration that is out of the norm, flights cancelled, and staff stranded and many more.  While all these tasks are covered – staff who are not skilled in a supporting role can get on with their roles.  And therefore, the wheels keep on turning and the industry keeps on cooling.

When good support is seamless it can go unnoticed the same cannot be said when support is not seamless!  Then everyone is an expert.  May I say, everyone is not an expert.

The next time that you are asked what you do – please do not use the word JUST in front of your job title.  Do not make your role smaller than it is.  It is madness.  I have done it r my whole career.  But I have made a difference to a lot of people, and I am important to my company so I am THE Personal Assistant.  I am confidently going to tell you, my loyal reader, that I am the person for the job.  I do make a massive difference.

So do you.  You are more than a JUST and if you are a part of the support industry yourself… well thank you.  Keep up the good work.  Contrary to popular belief – not everyone can work in support.  And if you are lucky enough to do so – I am sure people around you would struggle without you!

Until next time.

Take care

Sam and Lisa

The Industry Support.