Holding It Together: Lived Experiences of Secretaries in Navigating Their Roles in the Organization

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of secretaries in navigating organizational roles. The research aimed to understand the challenges secretaries face, the coping mechanisms they employ, and the insights they gain from their daily professional responsibilities. Using purposive sampling, eight secretaries participated in the study, four from the private sector and four from government institutions. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. The findings revealed that they developed a clear understanding of their secretarial roles through hands-on tasks such as taking minutes, preparing documents, organizing files, and helping their superiors during meetings. These experiences allowed them to strengthen their professional skills and adapt to the diverse demands of the workplace. Overall, the study concludes that the live experiences of secretaries reflect a profound and complex interplay of professional competence, adaptive resilience, and emotional labor. Their journey involves balancing multiple responsibilities and supporting organizational functions, demonstrating that the role of secretary is not only about completing tasks but also about contributing significantly to making the organizational work.