Tasks and Traits of a Successful Office Manager
On-point office managers prize efficiency, and are always on the lookout for methods and practices that can be improved on -- from stocking office supplies and equipment, to keeping a close eye on costs and staying under budget.
An office manager worth their salary has superb communication skills and remains in contact with each and every organizational member. While certain employees and departments may seldom interact with one another, a good office manager deals with all of them. For this reason, their ability to imagine others' standpoints and help to solve problems is a quality worthy of your praise.
An active interest in your company's well-being is another trait of a strong office manager. Their overall goal is to help the business be the best it can be; so they drill down to troubleshoot areas of office life that can be improved on. Their strong project management skills and analytical mind enhance their performance. This personality trait helps him or her examine a broad range of processes with an eye toward streamlining them, and to thereby help your organization meet its goals and prosper.
Technological savvy is another asset in a successful office manager. They have intimate knowledge of your business' trade tools, which makes them an enormous boon to your company. This person understands exactly what's needed to get the job done, which is why they're so often the one to find new methods, and to expedite and enhance the value of new software and hardware.
The successful office manager's knowledge of finance and money management is another one of their assets, not to mention their familiarity with staffing and hiring. They are content to leave the hiring to the human resources department, but are always ready if called upon to secure support staffing -- i.e., temps -- for seasonal or one-off projects. This means they're a proficient interviewer and are good at assessing people's aptitude for certain projects and roles. This often proves valuable when you decide to stay within the company to create a support team.
The successful office manager understands the responsibility that comes with being charged with an office's physical well-being. This entails managing all of the office's common areas to ensure they're sanitary and continually equipped with the necessary supplies and goods. They also govern safety precautions and mechanisms in the workplace, including the maintenance of first-aid kits and fire extinguishers, and the creation and dissemination of disaster plans, which can include fire evacuations, and shelter-in-place plans for hurricanes and earthquakes.
