LeRae Haynes
Free Press
Terry Michie, legal assistant and receptionist at Centennial Law Corp., says it’s great to celebrate Administrative Professionals Week.
“In my years of experience, I’ve heard many times from bosses that they couldn’t do what they do as well without office staff. That’s us.”
Michie has worked in office administration for approximately 30 years, and says she’s been hired in a wide range of positions to take as much pressure off her bosses as she could.
“That’s my job. It’s satisfying because I work hard and my bosses appreciate me. I like to do a job well, and when you get appreciated, you know you’re doing it right.
“At the end of the day I can go home and say, ‘I did a good job today’, and can feel good about it.”
Michie has worked in real estate, ran a carpet-cleaning business, managed a night club in Vancouver’s Gastown for 10 years and worked at ESP Consulting in Williams Lake. She was also a letter carrier in Vancouver and worked at Canadian Linen.
To be a successful office administrator or manager, the most important thing is to have a boss you can talk to with no hesitation.
“You also need a boss with the flexibility to deal with a vast number of personalities – that’s huge. You need a boss who understands your worth and pays you accordingly, and a sense of humour is great.”
Receptionists are often the face of the company, Michie says, adding people need to see a cheerful person greet them at the front.
“I also answer the phone with a smile on my face – the person on the other end can hear that.
It’s important for me to exhibit a warm and friendly atmosphere so people know that when they come in we will do whatever we can to help them.
“Especially when we’re dealing with people who are experiencing stress or grief and having a hard time, it’s important to show compassion, empathy and try to lift their spirits a little bit.
“When people say, ‘You’re so cheerful and I like hearing your voice when you answer the phone,’ then I know I’m doing my job.”
