November 26th 2021
Managing a team can be a tough, but very fulfilling, role in any business. It falls on your shoulders to bring out the best in your employees, playing to each of their strengths to create a formidable and cohesive team that can take on any challenge. Being an office manager is more than just delegating tasks and waiting for results. Your role can be the make-or-break of the business, so it’s key that you understand what you can do to take your position to the next level.
We’re going to give you some great tips on how you can become a successful office manager, no matter what industry you work in.
Becoming a Leader: The Ultimate First Point of Call
As an office manager, it’s your job to know the ins-and-outs of your office. Make it clear to your team that you’ll be able to answer any query they have, whether it’s about office facilities, IT services, or communication with HR to settle an issue. If they need guidance on travel, parking, or even where they can get some lunch, it’s fundamental to your role that you are the first person they want to come to when they have any questions or issues. This is especially true for co-working office spaces, where each site may have differing rules and amenities.
Letting your team know that there are no wrong questions, and always offering the right solutions is important to understanding and thriving in the role of an office manager.
Organisation is the Key to Long-Term Success
As an office manager, it’s your responsibility to be up to date on all inner workings of the office and current workloads. This is why being as organised as possible will be necessary in day-to-day office life. It’s so easy to lose track of critical tasks and fall behind. Utilising platforms such as a Google Calendar to schedule tasks in a timely manner can be invaluable, allowing you to never take your eye off the proverbial ball.
You’re usually supporting executives as well as your team, as the person in the middle, so being able to effectively plan and execute tasks in a timely manner is critical in the life of an office manager. Plan ahead to get ahead.
Mastering the Art of Communication
Have you ever been in a job where you feel like no one listens to the plight of the regular worker? Where bosses seem absent, and management has more important things to attend to? I’m sure we all have in our careers, and that’s why as an office manager, you should always have an ear to the ground when it comes to managing your team. Whether it’s small in-office disputes, tech that’s not working properly and even major issues that require HR to step in, you should endeavour to provide guidance where necessary and comfort in times of need.
Help your team to understand that you’re there for them, no matter how big or small their gripe is. Show them that you’re always on their side, which can also do wonders for mental health and morale in the workplace.
Hand-in-Hand: Personability and Relatability
Not every office is all work, all the time, pedal to the metal. As an office manager, you need to understand that your team is made up of other human beings with thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Being there for them both professionally and personally is a great quality to have and will help to bring up the mood of the office too.
If a worker has had a relative pass away, or are going through a tough divorce or break-up, offer your own personal advice and a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes, the sagest advice comes from unexpected places. Relate your own experiences to theirs and help to bring their mood up. This will likely form a stronger personal relationship, and they will know they can count on you in the future.
Improving Your Business Knowledge Can Pay Dividends Later On
In your role as office manager, you’re required to be on the ball most of the time. Knowing about all of your employees and the schedule for the day can only take you so far. That’s why we suggest taking it a step further and broadening your knowledge about not only your office, but your working industry too. Get to grips with industry practices, logistics and any clients or partners that are critical to the business. This will help you to understand the bigger picture and will give you the foresight to fix a problem before it happens! It might even make you look like a good candidate for a promotion too, so you can move on to manage even bigger teams.
Getting to Grips with Legal
Knowing about industry practices and office etiquette is critical, as previously mentioned, but another area which could massively benefit your role in managing an office, is the legal side. Becoming savvier in legal practices and procedures can be very handy in such an important role.
For example, you can fully understand the implications of business decisions and how they affect the company as a whole and be able to diffuse office disagreements before they even reach HR or the legal team. The law could (and should) be another string that you add to your office manager bow.
Hone Your Project Management Skills
Speaking of adding strings to your bow, why not undertake a project management training course? Developing your skills in this area can help you to understand both the short- and long-term goals of your company and allow you to plan each and every step of a projects’ journey.
Seeing a project through to completion is a difficult task, and one that requires meticulous planning and pin-point execution. This is a skill that is critical in most modern businesses and will also make your CV/Resume look very enticing to any future employer.
Fostering a Positive Atmosphere: Stay Enthusiastic and Engaged
It goes without saying that management can play a big role in the overall morale of an office. That’s why it should be part of your role to arrive at work with a positive and productive energy each day. Your team will look to you to take the lead in most situations, so a can-do attitude will likely rub off on them and will increase their productivity. This will also help in relationship building and solidify you as the go to person in the office for matters both private and professional.
So, we’ve given you some tips on how to become a great office manager, and whether it’s mastering communication and personability, or brushing up on your technical and legal skills, you now know how to go out there and completely smash the job!
If you or your company are in the market for a new office, why not head over and take a look at our serviced offices or managed offices to view our huge selection, which could be the best business move you ever make!
