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
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareOne of the best lessons I have learned is the... Read More
The company picnic is a beloved tradition at many firms.It's... Read More
It's not true in every organization, but it is true... Read More
Remember playing in your childhood sandbox? If you enjoyed being... Read More
As a freelance writer myself, I know how important it... Read More
As I work with clients to strengthen their teams and... Read More
Eight Principles for Purposeful AlignmentEffective teamwork requires individual members of... Read More
Young minds are quite easy to shape. International Terrorist recruiters... Read More
A follow-up companion reader to The 17 Indisputable Laws of... Read More
According to the Oxford Dictionary of Current English, to speak... Read More
I'm often asked, "Why is my team always fighting fires... Read More
In most organisations the administration/support team, although they can be... Read More
The feedback I'm talking about here isn't some sort of... Read More
In days past, loyalty was a given. The worker in... Read More
Teams don't have to be aligned with the goals of... Read More
The other day I got a call from a friend... Read More
Who keeps the wheels turning in your organisation? Who holds... Read More
"Tak kenak! Tak kenak!" "Adak Orang sanak!????"The quiet jungle has... Read More
Having experienced more than my fair share of conflict over... Read More
The very effective tool of keeping a journal can be... Read More
Any x by y matrix plan has one big risk...... Read More
One of the best ways to ensure that your planning... Read More
Companies often have incentives for reps, but sometimes that isn't... Read More
Do you let your people express their thoughts about the... Read More
Just today my partner Russ and I sat down to... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..Why do some teams perform well while others struggle? How... Read More
The people in your team may feel a bit uncomfortable... Read More
Someone once said - "Feedback is the breakfast of champions."... Read More
For a brief time, I tried to sell life insurance.... Read More
You're at a meeting with key staff. You want some... Read More
12 Tips and Reminders for Team Members To Enjoy Their... Read More
Teams run most businesses and teams work best if each... Read More
When leaders, consultants and managers require ideas, they automatically tend... Read More
Picture yourself entering a corporate meeting, team meeting, or business... Read More
Recently my fourteen-year old son Matt dressed up as Santa... Read More
As I work with clients to strengthen their teams and... Read More
Just today my partner Russ and I sat down to... Read More
Trainers, please picture this... You are presenting in a new... Read More
Team Building Question:I'm a manager of a team of 20... Read More
TEAM LEADERS WORKSHOPAlice asked Cheshire cat "which road should I... Read More
Internal business structures have been radically transformed over the past... Read More
Today, most of us have been involved in a team... Read More
I declared a Communications Major two years into school, after... Read More
We exist in such a rapidly-changing environment. Technology is moving... Read More
Did you know your work environment can actually make you... Read More
Who keeps the wheels turning in your organisation? Who holds... Read More
A lot of effort has been carried out in the... Read More
In a recent group coaching session, a client mentioned that... Read More
1. Humor reduces stress levels and stress is the number... Read More
Do you let your people express their thoughts about the... Read More
Team Building |