Aimee
[closed] What are some specific ways to strive for simplicity as a general office manager?
Hello,
I am a senior in college with a major of administration and a concentration of management. I would like to look for ways to become more of a simple leading manager when I enter the workforce. Currently my knowledge is limited to that of a student with a few classes in general business, so I would appreciate any kind pieces of advice and information. I believe that enough problems already exist in the world, so why not try to make things simpler on the individual level when working? How could I lead others to do the same?
Thank you. #business-administration #leadership #office-management
3 answers
John Ellis
John’s Answer
Simplicity and quality go hand in hand so I suggest you begin by getting familiar with the principles and techniques of quality improvement. There are a lot of good books on this and even those that relate to process or product quality will have good insight but a book I learned from a long time ago that relates to office procedures is "Commit to Quality" by Patrick L.Townsend, Wiley Press. It was published in 1986 but you might find it online through a used book seller.
Book learning will not give you all the answers because every situation requires different responses but a good understanding of the fundamentals for high quality organizations will be a solid basis for developing your skills and reaching your goals.
The nice thing about the kind of organization you aspire to lead is that not only do people do better work at lower cost but they have more fun, too.
John Ellis
Simon Robson
Simon’s Answer
To simplify a process....
1) Determine who (your customer) needs the item/information and when.
2) Work with the customer and see if the information/timing/tasks are appropriate and meeting their needs.
3) See if information/items/tasks that are similar can be consolidated into a single report.
4) Prioritize tasks and start/finish with the most urgent.
5) Never duplicate items/information/tasks.
6) Minimize and hopefully eliminate any rework.
7) Periodically check with your customer to see if the item/information/task is still needed and appropriate.
8) Revise and hopefully reduce workload.
Good luck
Paul A Coulter
Paul A’s Answer
Hi Aimee!! Great question! Lead with your feet don't point with your finger is a biggy. Be trustworthy! Be open and transparent in communication with high integrity. Communicate with not at employee's. Read The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly for an employee benefit every company should adopt. Be empathetic, compassionate. open minded and respectful yet consistent when communicating your expectations and intentions. Resistance from employee's is a form of communication from employee's that requires learning a language you may not be familiar with. Needing to be "right is the first sign of miscommunication. We have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Best to shut mouth, ask questions and listen. Ever notice that listen and silent have the same letters. Good luck on your soon to be new adventure. You might explore ATD Association for Training and Development (google it) for some other expanded career options. The HR field offers a variety of people opportunities.