Wind Beneath Our Wings

It’s pointed out from time-to-time that each of our individual and collective success has been built on the backs of those who’ve come before us. Here, here! Recognizing and celebrating the role of our forebearers in our accomplishments is fitting.

But there’s another group, in the present, that deserves a bucketful of tribute—admins (including all iterations and permutations of the term). This group of folks is the backbone of organizations everywhere. And although it’s not expressed near often enough, they are our most coveted resource.

They organize us; they allocate our most precious commodity—our time; they are our trusted advisers; they get us places—and then get us back; they center us; they carry around our decoder rings; they are faithful; when needed to be, they can be cunning and crafty; they are members of our family.

They also have a very good sense of humor. Just asking around as I’m writing this entry, I’ve heard some fun and telling stories. Like one where an admin volunteered to pet-sit for his boss while he was on a business trip. The pet died—of natural causes, of course, but he was terrified—and mortified that he'd be fired. He wasn't, but there’s now an ongoing joke about giving him more dog-like responsibilities.

Or the story about the admin who was given her boss’ credit card and asked to go to Victoria’s Secret to purchase an anniversary present for his wife—and that she could treat herself to whatever she wanted too. (Sometimes you just gotta wonder what people are thinking!)

Perhaps one of the more telling stories of just how central and important the role of an admin is is the one about a boss' wife who took her husband’s admin out to lunch and gave her a lovely spa basket in appreciation of all the things she did. The spouse said that her life was greatly enhanced because of all the admin’s efforts.

So let’s take the essence of this week—where flowers and balloons fill office desks everywhere and bosses have wider-than-usual smiles on their faces as they ask to have something faxed or a meeting scheduled—and live it out all year long.

Do you have any admin stories or accolades to share?  Any suggestions on how we can live this spirit of acknowledgement and high regard all the time?

Cathy

P.S.:  To Gina, borrowing a quote from Bette Midler who so powerfully belts out the words, “You are the wind beneath my wings.”

By blogger Cathy Benko, Deloitte LLP

She's Got Game

Note from blogger Cathy Benko: Following is a ‘book-end’ entry from guest blogger, Donna Orender, President of the Women’s NBA (see March Madness for original entry). Who do you think’s “got game”? And when’s the last time you told them so?

She’s got confidence. She’s got determination. She’s got strength. She’s got courage. Isn’t that what any woman aspiring to the top of her game wants those around her to think about her? Yes, of course! But don’t we all also want and need to be able to say that about the women around them.

You see, role models are critically important. No one knows that better than the women of the WNBA. On May 19, we start our 11th season, and the stories of this year’s players are nothing short of inspiring. But these players are the first to say that they were inspired by women who came before them.

Take Lindsey Harding, this year’s No. 1 draft pick who can remember attending her first WNBA game and knowing from that moment that she wanted to play in this league. Or Noelle Quinn, another first-round draftee who can remember attending the very first WNBA game played between the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks. Or Brooke Smith, a second-round pick who claims she wants to be able to "have the same effect on young kids as earlier players have had on me."

As president of the league, I am proud to lead an organization that’s founded completely upon a belief in women and by those who believe in women. With each passing season, the athletic abilities of our players grows. But equally important is the growth of our players as role models both on the court and in the community. Because that is what ensures that other women will follow their own dreams, whatever those dreams may be.

By Donna Orender, President of the WNBA

Baggage

It’s spring break this week for the elementary school, so we’re on, well, spring break. Actually, we’re in the queue to be processed to go on spring break. You see we’re going on a cruise. I’m sure it will be loads of fun and am looking forward to getting ‘out of Dodge’ for a bit, but I have to say that I’m already carrying some baggage about this cruise experience.

To be fair, I’ve been holding this baggage for years, but the proverbial load does not seem to be lightening. It all began when my husband and I opened a joint checking account years ago. Strike that—when I opened a joint credit account filling out all the forms, answering all the questions, supplying the appropriate documentation, providing the initial capital to fund the account, setting up direct deposit with my employer, etc., and then getting my husband’s signature to also have access to the account.

Somewhere between my direct interchange with the teller and the blank checks we received in the mail, my husband, faceless and passive in this transaction, became the primary account holder and I relegated to secondary status. I didn’t really care one way or the other until a few years later when I had a question and needed to contact the bank. They, well, wouldn’t talk to me without my husband’s authorization. You see, he was the primary account holder and I, well, without his nod of approval, was dirt (though they did acknowledge and appreciate that my pay was being deposited into this clearly-less-than-joint account).

So here we are checking in for the cruise. I put this whole trip together—comparison-shopped, figured out the scheduling, made all the reservations, was mindful of required travel documents, transacted the payments (using my individual credit card), confirmed things, etc. Now I get to the counter, and well, they need to speak with my husband to check us in. You see, somewhere in this large travel enterprise it was determined that it is the husband who is the primary guest. In this particular case, ‘the husband’ actually knows little about the details of this trip other than we were leaving on X day, will visit A and B ports of call, and that he needed to bring along a suit for dinner (and I suspect that he’s not the only husband who would know few of the details for any given trip).

So I ask. In the grand scheme of life, does it really matter? No, not really. Ummm, well maybe. Actually, in some psyche-bruising way, yes. Just like the battery bunny, these antiquated attitudes and long-tired processing protocols seem to be living on and on and on and on….

Any thoughts on how to take the batteries out?

Bon Voyage,

Cathy

P.S.  No, I didn’t interrupt any spa appointment or shore excursion to write this entry.  I didn’t need to—there was enough fodder for it before we ever left the dock!

By blogger Cathy Benko, Deloitte LLP

Lady Like

You may have noticed that this posting is a day or so late. Sorry about that, but this one was a mental struggle. The subject of this entry was a tough call—you be the judge of whether or not it was a good one.

It's no secret that women don't do a great job talking about their accomplishments (A Lesson Learned). I felt like I was making progress on this front (albeit not much), until the other day. You see, each year our women's initiative publishes an annual report. It's a way to look back over the year's work and take stock of everything that's been accomplished—and what we have still to do.

Well, this is that time of year; our WIN annual report is hot off the press. And it's good—very good. I'll go as far as to say that it's world class. World class in terms of its content and results, the delivery of such, and the remarkable transparency that it provides into our inner workings—statistics and all.

So, what's the problem? Well, my team, who worked very hard compiling the report, suggested that I write a blog about it. (Suggested isn't exactly the right word; it's more like implored.) You see, they are proud of their effort and of our WIN efforts overall.

My thought was, in a word, nah. It just doesn't feel right. I mean weren't we always told that it isn't lady-like to brag?

Well, as you can see I am writing about this topic which means that I am either easily swayed (not likely) or that the team made a very compelling point. Why not let others know that we continue to set the market when it comes to women in the workplace, fitting life in to work and work into life, and various and sundry related topics? Well? Well why not, I suppose.

Yes, we have much to be proud of—our progress and results are nothing short of extraordinary. And, we have a long way to go. There is still more to do. We will keep improving—building our pipeline of talented women, creating strength from diversity, delivering on our full potential of making our organization the best for everyone—women and men.

So, whatta ya think. A good call? Or do I need a little more time in lady-like finishing school?

Cathy

By blogger Cathy Benko, Deloitte LLP