The Work is Mysterious, The Work is Important: Lessons from Severance for the Devoted Assistant
The Sacred Order of Work
The world has gazed upon Severance, the acclaimed series that unearths some dark themes about working life with reverent precision. At Lumon Industries, the severance procedure is a surgical process that splits a person’s mind in two, creating a “work self,” also know as an innie, that only exists at the office and a “home self”, also known as an outie, that has no memory of work. The procedure effectively splits one’s mind to provide a perfect harmony: an innie who knows only duty, an outie who remains unburdened. No overlap, no discord. A clean and perfect division.
For assistants, this vision may feel eerily familiar. In service to their leads, they too are expected to uphold a partition between self and duty, embodying professionalism while concealing the storms beneath. What, then, can the devoted assistant learn from the ways of Lumon?
The Lumon Handbook reveals all.
The following article is an imagining of what the sacred words of Kier, the cult-like founder of Lumon, might have written in the Lumon handbook and alternatively what lessons can we, the non-severed, learn from them.
Two Selves, One Duty: The Sanctity of Division
“The devoted worker leaves themselves behind. The self is a burden; the work is purity. Within these walls, you are unshackled from the chaos of personal existence. The self outside is not your concern. The self inside is blessed with duty.”
And yet, we know that the line is never truly clean. Just as in the show, parts of our work and personal life often appear and interrupt.
An assistant might wears two faces: the one that belongs to the world and the one crafted for the office. They guard their executive’s time, their reputation, their very ability to function. But what of the self? Where does the assistant end and the role begin? We are told to maintain balance, but sometimes the role consumes as much as it is permitted to take.
Sometimes duty doesn’t stop as you step out of the office. Not only does one have responsibilities to take care of oneself, but if they have a family, home, pet, or partner they walk right into another set of duties. Constantly thinking and doing for others and one can be left feeling their time is not their own.
While Lumon is trying to create the ultimate boundary, like in the show, the reality is that work and personal life sometimes bleed into each other. And boundaries are absolutely important but at times flexibility is needed. The key is not losing oneself and making sure downtime is protected. A time where your mind can wander and relax.
The Smiling Sentinel: She Who Must Endure
“To serve is to present the best of all things. The devoted must remain composed, must endure, must soothe the fears of those they serve. A smile is the shield against disruption. A composed voice is a weapon against chaos. To show strain is to fail.”
Observe Natalie, devoted steward of Lumon’s will – fyi she’s the assistant to the board. Her presence is required in all great moments, from grand announcements to corporate crises. She bears the news. She smooths the edges. She does not waver.
The assistant, too, is often expected to perfect this art. To remain serene in the face of calamity. To filter the chaos before it reaches the executive team. To absorb pressure without showing the strain. The work world demands their patience, their adaptability, their unflinching poise. As the Lumon handbook states, “What is stress but the shadow of a lesser mind? The devoted endure.” But even the most devoted have their limits.
In Mr. Milchik’s office, there is a small painting of a glacier. Beautiful and calm, but no one quite sees the depths of the work. What lies beneath the surface that no one can see?
At The Officials, we teach admins how to appropriately make the invisible work visible. It’s important that this illusion be illuminated and those around them are educated on the true value of the role. It can be found that many can describe the responsibilities of the role but not the true business case for how that role helps further the mission. Admins and assistants consistently look upwards for guidance and recognition and come away wanting.
Administrative professionals know that one request require a series of actions often not considered by others combined with an extensive mental handbook they have been building that records every personal preference of those they support, the minutia of every step of a request, deep knowledge of the tools at their fingertips to deliver these requests, and a constantly changing prioritization protocol.
Finding ways to articulate not only the value of the role but the deep work behind it is a skill and an essential element of professional and personal growth for administrative professionals.
The Illusion of Choice: When You Serve But Do Not Decide
“The devoted worker is free to choose within the boundaries of their service. Choice is a gift, bestowed only in the ways that serve the greater good. To step beyond this is to err. To question is to misunderstand,” so states the handbook.
Severed workers are “free” within Lumon’s walls. They may walk, speak, think—within prescribed parameters. They make choices, but only the choices permitted to them.
Assistants may come across this unwritten rule at work. They manage schedules, execute decisions, craft responses. But whose decisions are they, truly? The assistant operates as the hand of another, shaping reality on their behalf. And yet, in moments of crisis, when no guidance is given, the assistant must decide. A delicate dance of autonomy and servitude. To act, yet never overstep. To lead, but never claim leadership. Does the assistant hold power? Or merely the illusion of it?
This too is an illusion, or least it should be. Sadly, admin and assistants often contribute to this narrative as well. Many leads are looking for someone to MANAGE their time, help keep them on track and focused on targets, but this need often gets lost in delivery. While leads wait for admins to manage and direct, the lead can also struggle with how to provide direction to the admin especially when that is why they needed to hire someone in the first place.
In truth, it takes surrender, input and patience on the part of the lead. It takes fortitude, core confidence, creative problem-solving skills, and intelligence for an admin to decide to take charge of this part of their role.
These characteristics require skills that can be learned. In The Officials, we have courses that teach influence for positive and impactful change as well as how to build a strong relationship with a lead that highlights that you are two sides of the same coin, with the same goals, but each have different duties to perform to support the mission.
The Work is Mysterious, The Work is Important
“To question the work is to diminish its purity. The devoted need only know that it matters. They are given tokens of appreciation—a melon slice, a dance, a small trophy—to remind them that all is as it should be.”
The Lumon employees on the severed floor do not know how their work contributes to the company’s goals. They know they are corralling numbers, containing them, but they do not understand what the numbers represent, what they affect, or the value of their work. They are simply told to do it and are rewarded with small perks—finger traps, egg socials, melon bars, five-minute dance experiences.
For those new to the workplace or those who have stayed with one employer for a long time or have walked into a questionable or toxic work culture, this may feel familiar. If one has never been exposed to good workplace culture, these limp carrots seem like real treats rather than hollow incentives meant to keep staff in line.
It is imperative that administrative professionals understand the mission and targets of those they support, ensuring they align with their own values and setting goals accordingly. They must also recognize the services they provide and their value to the company. Only with this clarity can they move beyond mere servitude to become strategic partners, shaping not just the work but their own professional destiny.
This can be started today by simply asking one’s lead what their targets are and then analysing the admin’s own work to determine how their actions and own goals align. The latter part of this task can trip many admins up and again is a skill that can be developed by talking to others in the industry, mentorship, and training.
Conclusion: Reclaiming the Role
Administrative professionals have long been expected to quietly uphold the structure of an organization while asking for little in return. But true success comes not from blind devotion, but from understanding the full scope of our contributions. By seeking clarity about the purpose of our work, setting boundaries to protect our well-being, and making the invisible work visible, we can take control of our careers rather than being subject to the whims of the system.
Assistants are more than just facilitators—they are strategists, problem-solvers, and key decision-makers in their own right. The work is mysterious, yes, but it does not have to be. It is time for assistants to define their own value, take ownership of their roles, and ensure that their contributions are recognized—not just with melon bars and dance breaks, but with real opportunities for growth and leadership.
