Office Superstars: The People Who Make It All Work
Administrative Professionals Week is a chance to recognize the people who keep work moving — and rethink how roles are evolving.
Apr 19, 2026
Most of us know what it feels like when a workplace is running well. Meetings happen when they should. Travel plans come together. Deadlines feel manageable. Problems get solved before they grow into bigger ones. Things simply move forward.
Of course, they don’t move on their own.
Behind that sense of order are people—people who keep track of the details, notice what needs to happen next, and step in before small problems become bigger ones. They help everyone do their jobs better. They make work work.
Monday marks the start of Administrative Professionals Week, a celebration of the people who keep our workplaces on track. It’s a chance to recognize those behind the scenes and those who solve problems, often with little fanfare.
But it raises a question: Who exactly are administrative professionals these days?
An expanding role
In a sense, everyone today is an administrative professional as the workplace asks more of us than it once did. People in every corner of an organization are coordinating with others, solving unexpected problems, and stepping in where they are needed.
That reality is becoming even more pronounced as new tools reshape how work gets done. Many teams are being asked to figure out, in real time, how to integrate new systems and now AI tools into their daily workflows. The promise is efficiency, but the reality is that someone still must figure it out.
And that “someone” doesn’t just have a single job title.
The magic of a smoothly running office occurs when someone learns a new tool early and helps others use it with confidence. It shows up in people who connect departments, catch problems before they grow, and make sure nothing slips through the cracks. Those are administrative instincts, regardless of title.
Time for a name change?
Given how much the workplace has changed, it’s fair to ask whether the name still fits. A few years ago, I put that question to the Celebrations Pulse community, and the responses were, as usual, thoughtful and revealing.
Some readers focused on impact, suggesting names like “Workplace Heroes Week,” “Team Support Week,” and “Office MVP Week.” Others leaned into appreciation, with ideas like “Gratitude at Work Week” and “Everyday Excellence Week.”
One reader captured the spirit of it best: “Call it whatever you want, just make sure people feel seen.”
A name change would not be without precedent. The occasion began in the early 1950s as National Secretaries Day, a way to recognize an essential part of the workforce and attract new talent to the role.
As responsibilities expanded, the name followed. It became Professional Secretaries Week in 1981 and, by 2000, Administrative Professionals Week — an attempt to better reflect the broader scope of the work.
A reason for celebration
Whatever you choose to call it, this week offers a welcome chance to reset how we think about work. It’s easy to focus on the pressures, the deadlines, and the constant change. This is a moment to focus on people.
Work, after all, is about more than earning a paycheck. It’s where many of us build relationships that shape our days and, over time, our lives. Those connections take effort and a willingness to show up for one another. One way to do that is to celebrate each other.
Bosses should take note: Teams with strong relationships tend to be more engaged, more creative, and more resilient. When people feel connected, they do better work, and they tend to stick around.
Administrative Professionals Week is a reminder that appreciation doesn’t have to be complicated. A thoughtful note, a quick call, or a sincere thank you can go a long way. It’s a reason to look around and recognize the people who keep things moving in the right direction.
All the best,
Jim
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AUTHOR
Jim McCann is the founder and chairman of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. as well as a business leader, author, and philanthropist with a passion for helping people deliver smiles. Devoted to helping others, he also founded Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization that provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities.
