3. Attention to detail
An excellent Office Manager will make it look seamless like the office runs itself (which we will know it does not). Office Managers have to go from organising large projects, working with suppliers, and negotiating deals to ensuring the coffee hasn’t run out, everyone has a functioning laptop, and the air con is working. These tasks, from the mighty to the small, affect staff when they go wrong. So, Office Managers have to ensure everything is running smoothly, which boils down to attention to detail (all the details).
4. Flexibility
Office Managers look at their packed to-do lists and decide which tasks to tackle first when all of the work is a priority with imminent deadlines. They also have their colleagues interrupting them with their urgent questions. Of course, they also want to please and be helpful because they are at the forefront of creating a great office culture; no wonder the role of the Office Manager can be quite overwhelming! Due to their job’s nature, Office Managers must remain flexible while handling multiple priorities.
5. Leadership
Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes and is never about the job title. Leadership is about taking responsibility for yourself and those around you. It is about owning your work. It is about making a difference in your organisation and adding value. Something Office Managers know a lot about and makes our 10 skills needed to be a fantastic office manager.
6. Communication
Communication is a critical skill for Office Managers (and will become even more essential as AI increases). OMs must cut through the noise, get to the heart of the matter, and communicate what is required. They work with a whole range of different personality types, seniority, diversity and backgrounds and, as such, need to adapt their communication style to relay their messages effectively and efficiently.
7. Tech Savvy
Office Managers must keep updated with the latest office equipment, apps and technology their colleagues use regularly. It isn’t the IT department that gets called when the video conferencing system isn’t working – it is the Office Manager!
8. Business Acumen
Understanding the business inside and out is vital for Office Managers, and it helps them make decisions based on the organisation’s objectives. Understanding finance and how businesses operate is also necessary. If you want to expand your business acumen, we have a video covering everything you need to know about developing your business acumen on a shoestring budget.
