adminNgoni Dapira Business Correspondent
SECRETARIES have been advised to upgrade themselves in order to keep the profession relevant in the dynamic modern-day evolving world.
This was highlighted last week Friday during the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Manicaland Chapter belated Secretaries Day commemorations held at a Vumba hotel.
The annual two-day retreat, which was running under the theme, “Addressing Competitiveness Challenges in the Workplace”, is meant to celebrate the role of administrators in the workplace and chart ways on improving the profession.
In Zimbabwe the commemorations are usually held on the first Friday of September.
One of the speakers, Mr Humphrey Chigumira, said professional upgrade was essential in the present-day world, urging administrators to upgrade or ultimately face extinction.
“Teachers used to hold diplomas but now their curriculum has upgraded in a bid to maintain relevance. Administrators must also do the same and upgrade their curriculum or face extinction.
“There are thousands of graduates each year that can easily replace your function in the wake of high unemployment so upgrading is important,” said Mr Chigumira.
Research shows that many workers around the world still hold the “secretary” job title, however, many alternative titles have become more popular, such as administrative assistant, office co-ordinator, administration specialist, executive assistant and office manager.
However, while all secretaries are covered under the umbrella term administrative professional not all administrators hold the title of “secretary”.
Mr Chigumira said the recent name change to Administrative Professionals Day expands the event to include other administrative job titles that also richly deserve recognition.
One of the participants, Mrs Maggie Matambanadzo, from Mutare Teachers’ College concurred and urged her fellow administrators to take up the recently initiated Bsc Degree in Office Management now being offered at Great Zimbabwe University in Masvingo, as an upgrade from the secretarial diploma.
“I agree that we need to upgrade ourselves as secretaries so that we earn the respect due to us. We might have over the years just been considered merely as supporting staff for management or executives, but the experience we gather in project management and communication, if we upgrade will be invaluable,” said Mrs Matambanadzo.
Mr Chigumira said dysfunctional systems were choking most organisations today.
He urged administrators to take the lead in adhering to good corporate governance in the workplace by ensuring there were no dysfunctional systems.
“We have seen some corporates where secretaries become the heart of the organisation. Aspire to be that significant in your organisation for your relevance to be ensured, but that can only be achieved if you upgrade,” said Mr Chigumira.
Administrators, however, agreed that there was need to breathe life into their union to elevate their concerns as one voice.
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