Tales Of A Receptionist Chapter 2: Respect

In the years that's I've worked in operations as an Admin/Office Assistant, I've seen this hierarchy, a totem pole of sorts of office politics that I've always noticed, but has now turned into dread starting with the number one culprit: Respect.

Chapter 2: Respect
Since we were young, we are taught the values of respect. 

• Don't talk back to your elders
• Make eye contact when you're speaking with someone
• Treat others the way you would want to be treated

But somehow as we become adults, everything that we've been taught goes out the window, especially in the workplace. Respect comes in all facade, but when your working for a company, it means speaking in a way that isn't deemed condensing, acknowledging one's work and therefore providing a reward and addressing your co-workers in a way that doesn't come across as if you're better then them. In my experience, these factors fall short and it irks me to my soul. 

Acknowledgment/Appreciation
Everyone, in some shape or form, when they accomplish a goal they want recognition and praise of a job well done. Now, we're not asking for a participation trophy every time something good happens, but a nice compliment or acknowledgment would make us feel good. It seems so easy for other departments to get recognition because front and center you see the hard work that is being produced. There's a record to track on their progress, but with Admin for whatever reason, it seems difficult. Maybe because we're the ninjas that no one knows are in the room. The night elves in fairy tales that fix the things that no one knew needed fixing.

Admin is the first line of defense. We take the blame, we finesse the favors with vendors to achieve the unbelievable tasks. We do the "no task is too small" jobs aka remedial work. One day out of the year, Administrative Day is celebrated (or not) and it would be great if fellow workers showed some sort of appreciation for what we do.
*For those of you who do, you're gratitude is greatly welcomed.

A Frame of Mind/Attitude
The world is a competition. Everyone is competing to be better than the person they were yesterday, a week ago, even a year ago. There are those who are competing against everyone to be better than the person next to them. It's natural, but in an environment where everyone shares a common goal in growing a company the best it can be, it doesn't seem to be the case most of the time.

As the glue that holds an office together, we are often viewed as people with minimum education and experience. Individuals whose work doesn't need much assistance because it's so minimal and easy, that anyone can do it. Stop. Just stop. This pisses me off because your mannerisms, your tone of speech screams "job is so easy. What's the problem?" I get it, you majored in business or sales or whatever sought after degree and I didn't. Your family owns the company and therefore you think it gives you the right to be high and mighty, but I have enough experience dealing with people, have an awareness like an elephant and have way more common sense and aptitude to learn a skill that enables me to outperform your work.
So this belittle attitude you have, knock it off because you don't want to know the little comic strip I have rolling in my head. *fake smile* 

I am not saying that Operations is the most underrated position in the workplace. I am sure that the undermining, condensing unappreciated attitudes fly across all boards, but through my experiences, from the places that I've worked, I always felt like what I did means nothing and that I am just a space to fill for painstaking work. So in the meantime, I'll bite my tongue and wade the waters like a crocodile.

If you enjoyed this, read part one here: Tales of a Receptionist Part 1