On the surface, they may seem innocuous; a bit of harmless banter, but using terms like “magician,” “hero,” or “work wife” to describe assistants can be detrimental to the role being taken seriously.
Because using terms like these can overshadow the professional skills and expertise that assistants bring to their roles. It reduces their contributions to something akin to magic or heroics, rather than acknowledging their hard-earned competencies and experience.
Terms like “work wife” can trivialize the professional nature of the role, introducing personal or gendered connotations that are inappropriate in a workplace context.
Some of these descriptions reinforce outdated stereotypes about the assistant role rather than highlighting it as a career with its own set of professional standards and career development paths.
By focusing on the more ‘miraculous’ aspects of the job, such descriptions can overlook the strategic thinking and planning that assistants contribute to their organizations.
Casual or whimsical terms can lead to a lack of respect from colleagues and superiors, impacting the professional credibility of assistants.
To be taken seriously and respected for their significant contributions, it’s important for the language used to describe assistants to be professional, respectful, and reflective of their actual roles and responsibilities.
