We promoted collegial relationships among secretaries by publicizing secretarial teams which were being formed in a few companies. As the trend toward teams grew from a trickle to a torrent, secretaries and assistants, abetted by e-mail, found ways to help one another solve job problems. Through group efforts they were communicating with management about how they could be more effective partners in making office operations more efficient and serving customers better. In the years since TOP began in 1981, the support staff field has changed in revolutionary ways. The equipment in offices is entirely different and so are the people.
Expectations are higher.
Competition for customers is greater. Opportunities to advance have multiplied. Office professionals have new titles ranging from executive assistant to administrative assistant to staff coordinator to information manager. Most companies now budget for support staff training and tuition reimbursement. Office professional teams have opened two-way channels of communication with management.