Are you the office manager responsible for running the day-to-day management of the office, whether in-person or virtually? If so, did you know that the more effective you are, the easier your job becomes with a bonus of looking great to upper management?
Most office managers are great at performing multiple tasks at once. But are you juggling many things but still don’t feel as though you’re accomplishing anything?
Is this you?
You have in-depth knowledge of your office’s operation and possess a sixth sense when it comes to troubleshooting a potential crisis.
You appear organized to the rest of the staff, but as a key employee, you’re always looking for opportunities to become even better at what you do.
To follow are some tips to get you moving in the right direction:
Become a Better Communicator
In your role, you must know how to talk to others while possessing the ability to listen. Since it’s your job to make sure things get done, learning how to ask the right questions and further clarify when it’s not making sense will allow you to do what is needed.
For example, if you’re in charge of delegating an assignment and you’re not 100% clear on the expectations, seek clarification. You don’t need to say you don’t understand it; ask for more details so that you can deliver more straightforward instructions.
By taking this action, you will avoid the need to redo a task that should have been done the first time correctly.
Develop Your Email Skills
Many people don’t take grammar in an email seriously. EVERYTHING that leaves your desk should be nothing less than professional with the proper spelling and punctuation.
To accurately get your message across, it’s best to put the essential information at the beginning as some read a few lines and stop there. If you send emails to the same people frequently, you’ll soon learn their “reading style” and adjust to make it the most relevant for them.
A good best practice is not to fill in the “to” field until after you’ve written the email and then triple-proofed it. A good first place to start is the subject line, so that it’s clear on the overall email’s mission.
If you have an attachment, attach it before you write the email. This best practice will help you avoid forgetting to send the attachment and the need to apologize to the receiver with yet another “oops” email.
Remember, once you send an email, it’s out there, so make sure you avoid:
- Insulting or patronizing anyone
- Misinterpretation which can be bad for you legally
And always read and re-read your email before hitting send.
Communicate Internally
Your role is to run an efficient office, and engaging in conversation with coworkers will help keep you in the loop and troubleshoot issues since they’ll feel comfortable talking to you.
Positive Attitude Will Get You Everywhere
Respectful humor in the workplace is one of the most important things you can do to keep attitudes positive and the environment an enjoyable place to work. When people are happy, they’re much more productive.
All of the above best practices apply whether you’re working remotely or back in the office.