Well, it used to be…. did you know for centuries men dominated the traditional role of Secretary?
His-story of the Secretary
The loose Latin translation for secretary, is secret and the position itself was one of power and authority. The earliest secretaries were those who were entrusted by a king and their role would include taking care of correspondence on private or confidential matters, particularly matters of the state.
A secretary was a trusted advisor and confidante and they held the secrets of the nobility, royal family and dignitaries, so it was a role of importance and especially prominence. Some of the roles were Personal Secretary, Private Secretary, Counsellor, Assistant Royal and Assistant to the State.
In order to hold such a valued and esteemed position, the person needed to be well versed in understanding the ‘world’ they were in. They needed to be well-educated, often speaking multiple languages and ‘penmanship’ was a skill that was held in high regard!
How War & Early Technology Impacted the Role of Secretary
In the second half of the eighteenth century, the industrial revolution brought technological developments, such as dictation and stenographic machines. Such machine tools replaced hand production techniques, and innovations such as steam power and gas lighting were introduced. This was the first step in the migration of men out of such roles and for women to enter the field. In the late nineteenth century, the first mass-produced typewriter was introduced, and it was believed because of a women’s small hands, they would be the best gender to operate them.
It was the Great War and WWII that brought the biggest changes though, with most secretarial positions now being filled by women. By this time, technology had also taken an even stronger hold on industry and machines such as calculators and data processing devices were common – making some of the traditional duties and skills less important.
All these things had a part in changing the standing and role of a secretary, but it is strongly believed the real reason women now held these positions was due to pay disparities, with businesses saving a substantial amount of money by employing a woman.
The More Modern Story of a Secretary
The role in administration has continued to evolve. We no longer use the word secretary, technology has taken over a lot of the ‘easier’ duties and the demand for some admin roles has declined….. but here is the interesting thing, the need for THAT key person, the holder of all things confidential; whether for business or personally, has increased, as has the skills and education needed to do the job.
There is a strong pull back to what the role used to be, way back in the beginning, centuries ago – as a key, trusted and esteemed advisor. As I have talked to Executives, MDs and CEOs of late, with everything they are experiencing and the decisions they are facing – the main message I receive is all about TRUST – who can they rely on when under such pressure.
Without even taking COVID-19 in to account, the workload and information flow for executives has increased exponentially and let’s not underestimate the political landscape at this level as well. So, the EA role in this environment is of a trusted confidante, business manager, adviser, counsellor, friend, ally, supporter, backstop, cheerleader, influencer, ears, eyes and more. In a LinkedIn post, Richard Branson wrote, “People often ask how I am able to keep on top of businesses in dozens of different countries and industries. Well, having an assistant who is on the ball 24/7 is one of the main ways it is possible.”.
So, with it being Administrative Professionals’ Day, let’s give the stature, recognition and applause due, to these valued and trusted individuals – the kings and queens of administrative support!
