A business is a complicated thing. As an entrepreneur or business owner yourself, you do not need to be told this.
Companies are successful almost by committee, as a result of the concerted and collaborative efforts of different and disparate teams with different skills and roles.
A new or growing business will generally have a skeleton staff filling these roles, but there is one unsung job role that could have a revolutionary impact on a business’ success and longevity: office manager.
What is an Office Manager?
The role of the office manager is, essentially, an administrative one. Indeed, it is one of the most important administrative roles in a given business, despite often flying under the radar with regard to recognition and even hierarchy.
Office managers do not belong to a department or sub-team but instead operate between departments to oversee the management of the office in which they operate – both physically and figuratively.
Anatomy of a Role: What Can Office Managers Offer a Business?
Office Administration
The most obvious benefits an office manager can bring to a growing business are the tangible ones relating to direct office administration.
Office managers handle the ordering and supply of office equipment, from the stationery closet to the technology on which workers may rely.
Thanks to office managers, your office will never be short of power cords or copy paper. The same principle applies to office-related administrative tasks, whether data entry or scheduling.
This is valuable for two key reasons. For one, there is no risk of office bottlenecking as a result of low office supply or individual mistakes made by team leaders in ordering their own equipment.
Secondarily, the office manager removes this responsibility from executive management across the board, allowing for an increase in practical productivity and a more effective business growth strategy.
Company Culture
Office managers are uniquely placed to understand the culture of your office environment – that is, the interrelationships between teams and individuals, along with the values they share and the social ‘mood’.
Not only this, but they are also well-placed to shape and guide this culture, for the betterment of the business as a whole.
Employee satisfaction is a multifaceted thing, with a number of component parts to consider. Not only are salary and employment perks important, but also the provision of a positive and even fun work environment.
Office managers achieve this through planning office-wide events, or simply providing simple comforts and opportunities to foster meaningful connections.
Managed Growth
Overall, office managers can have a significant positive impact on a business’ trajectory – saving time for other executive staff members and cultivating a cohesive, collaborative team in the process.
With regard to the latter, office managers can also do this more directly, growing your business’ talent pool and cultivating real growth in the process.
Office managers can become responsible for staffing, from the creation of job descriptions to the shortlisting of staff members and onboarding of successful candidates. Check out the Best Country for Cyber Security Jobs.