Our Company

Why you should appreciate the work of a receptionist

Posted by Darren Whitaker-Barnett, CEO, Founder, on 5 March 2012 | 6 Comments

Tags: Receptionist, Reception

As a receptionist I do so much more than greet visitors!

We have great fun seeing the official titles of receptionists when deploying WhosOnLocation around the world. Given these amazing multi-tasking, ‘front of house’ gate-keepers are often the first contact that customers, visitors, suppliers, and contractors have with organisations. It is great to see that businesses are starting to really appreciate the role they play. An example of this is evidenced in the plaques and titles we see on reception counters around the world.

Whilst many of you may argue that they do not necessarily reflect ‘appreciation’ of the role of reception, here are five of the more creative examples of reception counter plaques and titles we have seen:

1: I make a Wicked Coffee – just ask me (Sarah)
2: Mother to 500+ Staff
3: In this Company – I am Google (and boy she did know everything).
4: Director of Lasting Impressions (better than the cliché ‘First Impressions’).
5: Visitor Appreciation Cheerleader

Staying on a lighter note, we would like to share with you the top 10 gripes, pains, issues shared with us by the many receptionists we have engaged:

1: I wish staff would let me know where they are if they leave the building.
2: It would be nice to know which visitors are coming here a day or two in advance.
3: I wish our IT people took us seriously.
4: I wish the phone directory was up to date.
5: Why doesn’t the HR team let us know when a staff member is on leave so we don’t spend all day looking for them to patch a call through?
6: Why do visitors just leave without letting me know?
7: Why do staff members use the last item in stationary and not tell me?
8: Who stole my stapler?
9: Why does my password have to change every five seconds?
10: Could the phone not ring for just for five minutes?

What we have found with reception teams over the years is how technology is playing an increasing role in their jobs. Many are now having to be conversant in using Visitor Management, Dymo Label Printers, Reception Management, Online Staff Directories, Intranet Portals, Asset Management, Online Stationary Ordering, ID Card Management, Online Travel Booking, and other software tools in order to manage the daily tasks of their role.

Reception has come a long way from Lucile Ball and the old type-writer.

So next time you pass by your reception give them a shout out – and say thank you. We visit thousands of receptionists each year and seldom, if ever, are they not going 100 miles an hour.