Amen!

Might I just add (as a receptionist, secretary, or administrative assistant for the past 21 years) also...don't BS the receptionist in person either! Telling a receptionist that she looks pretty, is "oh-so-efficient", or "I love that color on you" while flashing what you think is a charming smile is not only sexist and nauseating, but ultimately ineffective! Even if you get past the front desk when your "uber-confidence" walks you out the door without so much as a backward glance and "Thanks" in the receptionist's direction...don't think for one second that she's not going to comment about that to her manager, or the HR manager! And besides, those remarks are juvenile and unprofessional at best.

My personal favorite? The recent grad who told me while attmepting to get an appointment with my boss (the president of the company) that he learned in MBA classes to never offend the "secretary" because she was the key to getting to the man you wanted to see. I can not even begin to count the mistakes in that conversation. (He didn't get an appointment, by the way. I guess he offended the "secretary." :)