Thank you to all who participated in my  2020 Weekend Poll on your professional networks and associations, I’m pleased to present the results, albeit a bit after the fact. Thanks for your patience. While I’ve been focusing most of my recent work on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting us, it’s also important to reflect on how your networks and professional associations impact assistants and their employers.

Check out the trends since I first posed such questions in 2016

Each year since 2016, I’ve published Weekend Polls asking you about your involvement in professional associations and networks. That first year, 89% of respondents reported belonging to such a body. The percentage rose to 95% in 2017, dipped to 87% in 2018, and then rose to 96% of respondents last year. In early 2020, 94% of respondents belong to professional networks and/or associations.

Given all the support, information sharing and other tips I’ve seen exchanged by peers in recent months amid pandemic-related challenges we’ve experienced, it’s little wonder such a high percentage of assistants commit to their networks and professional associations.

Internal networks

Only 26% of respondents reported belonging to an internal network or association. That’s because 74% of you reported that one isn’t in place where you work.

I’ve launched/co-launched two internal networks, one at both of my last two places of employment. One has been functioning – and positively impacting the institution as well as its members – since 2006, and the other is approaching its 10th anniversary.

While some assistants tell me they don’t have enough assistants on staff to form a network, other employers and assistants in larger organisations are missing out on a great opportunity for employee development, engagement and morale. I present on the value of having an internal network, and how to establish and capitalise on it, and am happy to make my services available to organisations willing to invest in such an undertaking.

Funding: a sign of things to come?

This year, 53% of respondents reported that you self-fund your membership in external networks and associations. This is up from 2019 and 2018 (43% in both those years), yet down slightly from 2017. Sixteen percent of you said both you and your employers contribute to these memberships, while 28% reported that your employers fund such professional activities.

With all the financial decisions employers are facing in 2020, it’ll be interesting to see readers’ experiences when I pose this question again in 2021.

Impacting your confidence and skills, while providing certification and credentials

I asked readers to identify the three most significant positive impacts your networks and professional associations have for you, and there was a tie for first place. Respondents value the credentials and certifications you can attain through these bodies. Collectively, you attach the same value to the confidence derived through your participation in them.

Conferences and the skills development secured the next highest rate of mentions. Remember that I asked for your top three, and so it’s worth noting the other positive impacts people also acknowledged. These include peer support, leadership skills, contacts, advocacy and insights on issues and trends.

Interculterality

Then there’s another kind of network. Marcela Brito and Paula Moio, both of whom I’ve interviewed for my Real Careers series, both have extensive networks.

Shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic took over our lives this year, Paula dropped me a note to let me know about a book on which she and Marcela are collaborating with three counterparts living in different countries.

Marcela, Paula, Simone Cunha Reis, Claudia Eleuterio and Natalia Falarara Gampires have yet to meet in person as a group. Despite this, they have come together to form yet another international network. They hope to share their stories and insights with counterparts.  Click here for a preview of what Marcela, Simone, Claudia, Natalie and Paula have to say about their journeys and interculturality.

There’s more, which you find below in …

THE DATA

1. Do you belong to any professional associations or networks? 

• Yes: 94% of respondents, compared to 96% in 2019, 87% in 2018, 95% in 2017 and 89% in 2016
• No: 6% of respondents, compared to 4% in 2019, 13% in 2018, 5% in 2017 and 11% in 2016

2. If you DO belong to one or more professional associations/networks, select the number to which you belong. 

• one external professional association/network: 29% of respondents, compared to 31% in 2019, 18% in 2018, 24% in 2017 and 21% in 2016 who identified as belonging to a single association/network
• one internal professional association/network: 6% of respondents, compared to 2% in 2019, which was the first year I offered this selection as a response option
•  two professional associations/networks: 40% of respondents, compared to 37% in 2019, 30% in 2018, 40% in 2017 and 33% in 2016
• three professional associations/networks: 17% of respondents. compared to 20% in 2019, 24% in 2018, 20% in 2017 and  23% in 2016
• four professional associations/networks: 6% of respondents, compared to 8% in 2019, 9% in 2018, 0% in 2017 and  10% in 2016
• five professional associations/networks: 0% of respondents, compared to 0% in 2019,  4% in 2018, 8% in 2017 and 10% in 2016
• six professional associations/networks: 0% of respondents, compared to 2% in both 2019 and 2018, 8% in 2017 and 10% in 2016 
• more than six professional associations/networks: 3% of respondents (note: this is the first year in which I’ve offered this response as an option

3. Please name external professional associations/networks to which you belong.

Note: with 41 different bodies mentioned, I’ve provided the list at the end of this post.

4. (a question not posed in prior years) If you do NOT belong to a professional association or network, which of the following best describes the reason? 

• I’m not aware of one in my area: 50% of respondents
• budget constraints: 25% of respondents
• Time constraints: 25% of respondents 
• I’m not interested: 0% of respondents 

5. (a question not posed in prior years) Do you participate in an internal network or association at your place of employment?  

• No; we don’t have one: 74% of respondents
• Yes: 26% of respondents
• No; we have one but membership is role-based and I’m not eligible: 0% of respondents
• No; we have one but I’m too busy/the schedule doesn’t work out: 0% of respondents
• No; I’m just not interested: 0% of respondents

6. (a question not posed in prior years) If you belong to an INTERNAL network, please indicate whether you agree or not that the network has had positive impacts as follows. Please note: I asked readers to select one of three options alongside each of the options below – strongly agree, agree, or disagree. In some instances, you’ll see the percentages alongside a single response add up to 99% rather than 100%; that’s because I chose against displaying decimals.

• standard operating procedures (SOPs): 78% of respondents strongly agree; 22% agree
• processes, protocols, policies better understood: 78% of respondents strongly agree; 11% agree; 11% disagree
• skills enhancement: 67% of respondents strongly agree; 33% agree
• increased confidence: 67% of respondents strongly agree; 33% agree
• a sense that I’m not in this alone: 67% of respondents strongly agree; 33% agree
• good for employee engagement: 67% of respondents strongly agree; 33% agree
• less reinvention of the wheel: 67% of respondents strongly agree; 11% agree; 22% disagree
• increased transparency/ information flow: 56% strongly agree; 44% agree
• improved morale: 56% strongly agree; 44% agree
• general sense of collaboration, support: 56% strongly agree; 44% agree
• leadership opportunities: 56% strongly agree; 22% agree; 22% disagree
• opportunities to elevate my profile/ reputation: 50% strongly agree; 50% agree
• better communications re initiatives/ programs/ changes to be implemented: 44% of respondents strongly agree; 56% agree
• opportunities for assistants’ voices/ insights to be heard: 44% of respondents strongly agree; 44% agree; 11% disagree
• supports succession planning: 44% of respondents strongly agree; 33% agree; 22% disagree
• mentorship opportunities – formal or informal: 44% of respondents strongly agree; 33% agree; 22% disagree
• templates – support consistency, professionalism and create efficiencies: 44% of respondents strongly agree; 44% agree; 11% disagree
• contribute to initiatives that stretch/ showcase my skills: 44% of respondents strongly agree; 56% agree
• reduction/ breaking down of silos: 44% of respondents strongly agree; 44% agree; 11% disagree
• public speaking skills development: 33% of respondents strongly agree; 22% agree; 44% disagree

7. (a question not posed in prior years) If you’d like to elaborate on any of the impacts identified in # 6 (or on one not included in that list), please do so below.

• My internal network is such a blessing to have! No matter who we support (Director to SVP) we treat each other with such respect. It’s a big change from my last company. If someone is unable to be in that day and their support needs something, people step up to help make that happen. If someone needs help with anything (from missing files to locating a certain person to whatever) we all step up to help make it happen. I LOVE the wonderful people that I work with and help me be a BETTER EA.
• Too small a company
• We do not have an official network anymore, but there are some in the group that still send out information to the network that is very useful.

8. Which are the three most significant positive impacts your networks/professional associations have on your career? Note: confidence and credential(s)/certification were cited by the most assistants. They tied for first place, followed by the other response options you’ll see presented in descending order below.

• confidence and credential(s)/certification (a tie)
• conferences/skills
• peer support
• leadership skills
• contacts
• advocacy and issue trend insights (a tie)

9. How long have you been involved in professional associations or networks?

• <1 year: 3% of respondents
• 1-2 years: 20% of respondents
• 3-5 years: 20% of respondents
• 6-8 years: 19% of respondents
• 9-10 years: 13% of respondents
• 11-15 years: 10% of respondents
• 16-20 years: 6% of respondents
• 21-25 years: 6% of respondents
• 26+ years: 3% of respondents

10. (a question not posed in prior years) Have you leveraged contacts from your external professional association(s) or network(s) to benefit your employer?

• Yes: 63% of respondents 
• No: 16% of respondents
• Not yet, but that’s a good idea: 21% of respondents

11. Has membership in such associations/networks enhanced your workplace performance?

• Yes: 97% of respondents, compared to 94% in 2019, 86% in 2018 and 17% in 2017, the first year I posed this question
• No: 3% of respondents, compared to 6% in 2019, 11% in 2018 and 22% in 2017

12. Is your employer aware of the positive impact your network/association has upon your performance and/or contacts that you leverage for the benefit of your organisation?

• Yes; I’ve communicated this to my employer: 63% of respondents, compared to 56% in 2019 and 46%  in 2018, the first year I posed this question
• Yes; my employer recognises this independent of my communications on the matter: 16% of respondents, compared to 28% in 2019 and 29% in 2018
• No: 21% of respondents, compared to 16% in 2019 and 15%  in 2018

13. Has membership in such associations/ networks enhanced your career?

• Yes: 77% of respondents, compared to 91% in 2019, 88% in 2018, 79% in 2017 and  86% in 2016
• No: 10% of respondents, compared to 8% in 2019, 7% in 2018, 18% in 2017 and  12% in 2016
• It’s early days; I don’t yet know: 13% of respondents, compared to 1% in both 2019 and 2018, this first year I included this as a response option

14. Has membership in such associations/networks enhanced your social life?

• Yes: 55% of respondents, compared to 72% in 2019, 68% in 2018, 72% in 2017 and 87% in 2016
• No: 45% of respondents,  compared to 28% in 2019,  30% in 2018, 28% in 2017 and 13% in 2016

15. Have you held any leadership positions within such associations/ networks?

• Yes: 53% of respondents, compared to 69% in 2019, 66% in 2018,  65% in 2017 and 70% in 2016
• No: 47% of respondents, compared to 31% in both 2019 and 2018, 35% in 2017 and 28% in 2016

16.  What percentage of membership in your network(s)/association(s) do you estimate is male?

• 0% male membership:  13% of respondents, compared to 4% in 2019, 7% in 2018 and 13% in 2017, the first year I posed this question
• 1-5% male: 69% of respondents, compared to 57% in 2019, 62% in 2018 and 68% in 2017
• 6-10% male: 8% of respondents, compared to 19% in 2019, 16% in 2018 and 10% in 2017
• >11% male:  10% of respondents, compared to 8% in 2019, 2% in 2018 and 3% in 2017

17. How is your membership in external networks/associations funded?

• Self-funded: 53% of respondents, compared to 43% in 2019 and 2018, 56% in 2017 and 49% in 2016
• Employer-funded: 28% of respondents, compared to 36% in 2019, 34% in 2018, 23% in 2017 and 25% in 2016
• Self- and employer-funded: 16% of respondents, compared to 11% in 2019, 15% in 2018, 13% in 2017 and 20% in 2016
• N/A; no associated costs or fees: 3% of respondents, compared to 10% in 2019, 9% in 2018, 8% in 2017 and 5% in 2016

18. . Do any of your professional associations/networks offer certifications or credentials?

• Yes: 87% of respondents, compared to 84% in 2019,  88% in 2018, 69% in 2017, the first year I posed this question
• No: 13% of respondents, compared to 16% in 2019, 9% in 2018 and 23% in 2017

19. Do any of your professional associations/networks offer awards/peer recognition?

• Yes: 77% of respondents, compared to 74% in 2019, 71% in 2018 and 69% in 2017, the first year I posed this question
• No: 23% of respondents, compared to 26% in 2019, 27% in 2018 and 28% in 2017, the first year I posed this question

20. Do any of your networks/professional associations offer mentorship programs?

• Yes: 66% of respondents, compared to 59% in 2019, 77% in 2018, the first year I posed this question
• No: 34% of respondents, compared to 41% in 2019 and 21% in 2018 

21.  Which of these channels do you most use for your professional association/network communications?  

Email is the channel cited by the greatest number of respondents (36%, compared to 30% in 2019), followed by Facebook (25%, compared to 28% in 2019), network/ association websites (19% of respondents, compared to 23% in 2019), LInkedIn (17%, compared to 8% in 2019), and other (3%).

Twitter followed in the mentions, followed by Instagram and YouTube.

… and now, readers’ responses to the third question I posed. Here’s an alphabetical list of all the external professional associations/networks to which you belong. 

• AAP – Association of Administrative Professionals
• APAI – The Association of Professional Administrators in Ireland
• AAPNZ – Association of Administrative Professionals New Zealand Inc.
• APAI – The Association of Professional Administrators in Ireland
• APC
• ASAP – American Society of Administrative Professionals
• Austin EA Network
• Australian Institute of Office Professionals
• BBOPA – Bucks, Berks and Oxon PA Network
• Belfast PA Network
• Bristol PA Network
• Chartered Institute of Management
• EA Network
• Eat Your Career
• Employer-sponsored group (there were a few such references to internal networks)
• EPAA – Executive & Personal Assistants Association (UK)
• Executive Secretary group
• HAYS PA Network
• IAAP – International Association of Administrative Professionals
• IAM – The Institute of Administrative Management
• IMA – International Management Assistants
• IMA Germany
• Lean In
• LG Chief Officers Group – EA Alliance
• LG Professionals Australia
• MDHUB
• NAEOP – National Association of Educational Office Professionals
• NALS – the Association for Legal Professionals
• NAPAHE – National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education
• Office Dynamics
• Office Ninjas
• Philanthropy New York
• Philanthropy New York
• REACH Chicago
• Scottish PA Network
• Secretary.it (Italy)
• South Hampshire PA Network
• Sussex PA Network
• The PA Hub
• Women in Business
• YES – Yorkshire Executive Support Network