In most organisations the administration/support team, although they can be acknowledged as being important to the business, they are treated as if they're not.
Day after day, week after week they are in the office, slogging away making sure the work gets done. Many of them are so conscientious they won't take time out and stay at their desks until the work is done. Not only are they integral to the running of any business, their income and the way they are treated may not always reflect the importance of their role.
Jenny's Story
Jenny has worked for her current employer, for the past three years and thoroughly enjoys her role as Personal Assistant to the General Manager. They have a great working relationship. Whenever she needs time off to attend her children's sports days and special events, it's never an issue. If she requires the occasional afternoon or morning off to deal with personal matters, all she has to do is ask. Because of this attitude with her employer, she does her utmost best in her work and never thinks twice about working overtime on the odd occasion. In fact she works twice as hard.
This is a totally different situation to Jenny's previous employer. Jenny had been working for another organisation where her boss was 'married to the job'. Although he had a wife and family, his behaviour didn't reflect this. He worked all hours of the day and night and couldn't understand why everyone else went home at 5.00 p.m. Although she did her utmost best to organise him and get the work done on time, he would always ask for tasks to be done just when she was getting ready to leave for the day.
On the many occasions when she worked back or took work home so that her boss would have what he wanted for the next morning,he never thanked her. He just assumed that's what she should do. He never considered her needs. She was a single parent and therefore had major responsibilities. She had a life too. Her boss on the other hand was fortunate to have a a wife who didn't work and took care of their personal life.
Prior to Jenny being in this role, there had been three other people who had worked in her position, and all three had lasted less than three months.
Jenny had enough, she left after 6 months and found her current position. It wasn't the money that was her main issue. It was the flexibility and appreciation. Although her boss was pleasant enough, he just didn't understand that there is more to working with someone than just paying their wages.
The Final Word
When employing staff make sure they are the right fit. If you're looking for someone who can be extremely flexible in their hours and can come in early and stay late, then make sure that person is in the right personal situation to do that.
Employing people is a skill in itself. Keeping them happy so that they will be an important part of your business is another story. As mentioned in prior newsletters, when you look after your people, they will look after you and your business.
About The Author
Lorraine specialises in working with businesspeople showing them how to dramatically boost their productivity, reduce the stress and the mess in their lives and have more time for enjoying their life. www.office-organiser.com.au, www.office-organiser.com.au
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge ..If you own a franchise you would be wise to... Read More
1. Involve them. Many employees want to be involved in... Read More
As a freelance writer myself, I know how important it... Read More
Too many techies get a bad rap for lacking teamwork... Read More
Sometimes the greatest challenges lay not within the actions of... Read More
Turbulent TwistersYou've read about it in the headlines and experienced... Read More
It's not true in every organization, but it is true... Read More
The world of work has changed. It used to be... Read More
Everyone knows, works or lives with "innies." Who are they... Read More
1. Humor reduces stress levels and stress is the number... Read More
7 Key Dimensions of High Performance Teams We can always... Read More
Do you remember how you felt after your last interaction... Read More
Managing a small business continues to become more challenging. However,... Read More
Recently my fourteen-year old son Matt dressed up as Santa... Read More
Teams don't have to be aligned with the goals of... Read More
When was the last time you spent excessive time and... Read More
It's a great sunny day so it's time to get... Read More
In a recent group coaching session, a client mentioned that... Read More
It's the summer of 1973, and a young film director... Read More
Let's look at the detail of giving feedback. Whether you... Read More
A college football team has it. A corporation has it.... Read More
More and more I hear people misunderstanding what someone else... Read More
Franchisors should also be heavy on the award side of... Read More
Truth on mlmDid you know that the truth on mlm... Read More
"Conflict becomes politics, commitment becomes 'Only if it's in my... Read More
on demand house cleaning Arlington Heights ..The other day I got a call from a friend... Read More
True or false? Teams that practice good teamwork contribute to... Read More
On the trail in Northern Canada "Marche" was the word... Read More
Have you noticed that some people seem to stop listening... Read More
As a manager, your employees will come to you with... Read More
You are new to Internet Marketing, you join one Affiliate... Read More
There is a WHOLE lot of talk these days about... Read More
It's not true in every organization, but it is true... Read More
It's frustrating when your co-workers, audience members, teenager or even... Read More
The world of work has changed. It used to be... Read More
People who lead the best teams realise early on that... Read More
Eight Principles for Purposeful AlignmentEffective teamwork requires individual members of... Read More
A college football team has it. A corporation has it.... Read More
What's the Secret Ingredient That Turns Groups into Teams? Working... Read More
No figure in history is like General Patton. He was... Read More
Are workers telling the truth when they say they are... Read More
More and more I hear people misunderstanding what someone else... Read More
"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common... Read More
It's the summer of 1973, and a young film director... Read More
One of the best ways to ensure that your planning... Read More
Turbulent TwistersYou've read about it in the headlines and experienced... Read More
From the moment he putted with Bob Hope on the... Read More
Survival: The Name of the New Economic Game People rarely... Read More
A grassy field, two nets, a soccer ball and some... Read More
As I work with clients to strengthen their teams and... Read More
Team Building |