Posted On: April 21, 2004, 1:00 pm CDT

Posted By: Been there done that

Wow! I figured this might be a very pensioned discussion, but not at this level.
I agree with allot of what everyone is saying as far as "perceptions", and I think I is very interesting that some of the comments talk about how unfair the system is, and how much education they have etc. But the emails are riddled with misspellings, improper grammar, and definitely not proofread before hitting they "send" button. I personally took the time to cut and paste this email to my word and use spell/grammar checker, re-cut and paste it back. It only took a second to do, that is the extra step that it takes sometimes to advance, and what good managers look for in people we want to advance.
Professionalism is 24/7. It is in attitude, demeanor, and how you present yourself and your company/agency all the times. That also includes how you send your missives. I truly understand the passion that some of the comments sent were penned with and give the authors the benefit of the doubt that they were sent in passion.
But there is a difference in producers and the account managers or customer service techs. There is a difference in the account manager and the principals of an agency. The fact that some CSRs' don't get what it is, a lack of that particular agencies training in how an agency runs and what part each individual plays in that agency. A great agency recognized the contribution of each employee, and nurtures Team Building, and growth opportunities for it's employees. Now, opportunities are NOT entitlements. Just because you work somewhere for a very long time does not mean you have a RIGHT to advance. Advancement comes from initiative and growth, maturity and ambition. Entitlements have no part in the private sector.
For the most part- agency owners, principals and even producers are "entrepreneurs". Most folks don't get how entrepreneurs operate, so maybe that's part of the problem.
Fostering team building, and letting employees know what their part in the agency means could make a difference in the overall perceptions. It certainly helps in the overall productivity of the agency, and a smart agency will trickle that profitability down to each employee. Otherwise, the really smart ones, be they accounting, customer service or producers will leave.