[*2023 UPDATE*] The Admin Title Recalibration Initiative (Expanded Career Pathing for Administrative Professionals)

(PLEASE make sure to read the article below ??AND review the overview presentation prior to attempting conversations with Leadership/HR!)

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS ALL UPDATED 2023 OPEN SOURCE DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE TITLE RE-CALIBRATION INITIATIVE

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This update is my rallying cry to career Administrators everywhere –

THE MOMENT IS NOW!!!

As Lucy Brazier stated in front of 2500 attendees at the October 2023 Administrative Professionals Conference:

“We have a very short window of time to evolve mindsets and systems in support of Administration as a legitimized core business function and a respected long-term career. I fear if we miss this window, we will not get a chance like this again for another 50 years.”

I couldn't agree more with Lucy's statement and coupled with my own experiences across the administrative landscape as a front-line professional, a start-up/scale up executive consultant, and an administrative advisor, I can confirm that the movement to elevate the respect, the resourcing and the aligned compensative rewards for business administration professionals has started to translate into REAL CHANGE.

But we are nowhere near the finish line (yet).

It's crucial that we keep pushing forward, sparking discussions and actively offering solutions to solidify the changes already underway. These efforts will not only pave the way for improving career paths of Administrative professionals but also ensure a positive return on investment for the businesses they work with for years ahead.

Which is why I bring you this important update…

It has been five years since the launch of my original “Administrative Title Recalibration Initiative” framework. I am proud to say that over the past three years I have witnessed new titles, broadened scopes of responsibility, and increased compensation making their way into the Administrative recruitment and business operations scaling plans across numerous industries.

While I am still frustrated at the increased use of the catch-all title of Chief of Staff (which is what prompted my creation of the new Title Recalibration Initiative to begin with) I can still appreciate the short term positive impact behind it – where the previously stereotyped tactical 1:1 executive perk "anyone-can-do-this” role is now elevated to (and recognized as) a highly skilled and cross-functional strategic business generalist position.

I am a vocal advocate of retiring the titles of Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff in order to support a more formalized, clarified (i.e. development-centric), and extended career ladder for Administrative professionals rooted in already accepted G & A structures; therefore aligning and reinforcing Administration NOT as a 1:1 siloed and title-cliffing role, but instead as a fully integrated and career-pathed BUSINESS FUNCTION.

Below is what has remained the same from the 2018 model:

• 14 grade levels of development (with new titles and expanded professional levels beyond the traditional EA to CEO title) with built in flexibility to choose a smaller subset of titles to align with your company's stage/growth needs
• Newly structured and highly detailed job description documents (as aligned with each level) that more explicitly convey baseline expectations around behaviors, role scope responsibility spectrum, technical requirements, etc.)
• Supplemental "Future of Jobs Report" white paper from the World Economic Forum discussing in demand skills for 2023 - 2027
• A starting point for businesses to offer a defined developmental path where value impact is amplified for both the admin function and the business as a whole

What has changed in this 2023 update?

Some exciting new additions have been made to support Executive Leaders, Senior Administrators and Human Resource professionals (particularly in the United States) in committing to the implementation of this model through a more seamless plug & play approach to access the untapped ROI from this role – changes include:

• Layered/aligned Aon Radford workforce code level calibration with G & A business function title comparisons (U.S.)
• Layered/aligned World Administrators Alliance (WAA) "Global Skills Matrix" Administrative Capabilities Leveling (Global)
• Additional clarity around the business NEED for an updated approach to the function of strategic administration

To all of my passionate, curious, committed and highly talented Administrative colleagues – PLEASE do not waste another minute waiting for other parts of the business to recognize, integrate and reward your untapped potential.

THE MOMENT IS NOW!

Use your voice and use this model to ensure we do not have to wait another 50 years to shift perspectives AND systems on behalf of Business Administration/Executive Operations. The future is bright for Administrators who believe in the words of Abraham Lincoln…

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”

I look forward to joining you on this truly exciting journey – onward and upward in 2024 and beyond! ?

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS ALL OPEN SOURCE DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE (2023 UPDATE) ADMINISTRATIVE TITLE RE-CALIBRATION INITIATIVE