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
family-safe home cleaners Morton Grove ..7 Key Dimensions of High Performance Teams We can always... Read More
Ever watched a really brilliant idea meet with resistance and... Read More
Ever lost for ideas while working in a group? One... Read More
We exist in such a rapidly-changing environment. Technology is moving... Read More
Feedback:Most experts agree both types; constructive and positive feedback are... Read More
Why do some teams perform well while others struggle? How... Read More
Many believe a leaner government promotes better freedoms with respect... Read More
Trainers, please picture this... You are presenting in a new... Read More
Teams are often useful in situations where the task cannot... Read More
Most believe that leadership is an innate quality that some... Read More
One of the greatest challenges a coaching manager has is... Read More
Proactive High Performance Teamwork is made up of nine proactive... Read More
Recently my fourteen-year old son Matt dressed up as Santa... Read More
Irrespective of any given situation, "Team Work Works!" It is... Read More
There are few industries or service type businesses, which are... Read More
Having experienced more than my fair share of conflict over... Read More
When was your last team celebration? Have you been way... Read More
The other day I got a call from a friend... Read More
The people in your team may feel a bit uncomfortable... Read More
A follow-up companion reader to The 17 Indisputable Laws of... Read More
Do you let your people express their thoughts about the... Read More
Maybe you find yourself in a new team environment and... Read More
Once you've set a goal for yourself as a leader... Read More
Internal business structures have been radically transformed over the past... Read More
Who keeps the wheels turning in your organisation? Who holds... Read More
home cleaning services Wilmette ..Everyone knows, works or lives with "innies." Who are they... Read More
In a recent group coaching session, a client mentioned that... Read More
Do you remember how you felt after your last interaction... Read More
At a time when many companies are scaling down their... Read More
The ability to build effective teams is a must for... Read More
Let's look at the detail of giving feedback. Whether you... Read More
"Conflict becomes politics, commitment becomes 'Only if it's in my... Read More
The first in a series of articles giving a slightly... Read More
12 Tips and Reminders for Team Members To Enjoy Their... Read More
Abstract: Based on significant research, Entelechy has defined characteristics of... Read More
One of the best lessons I have learned is the... Read More
A college football team has it. A corporation has it.... Read More
"Asking questions can be a means of establishing authority, fulfilling... Read More
Effective and sustainable teambuilding is necessary in today's marketplace where... Read More
Maybe you find yourself in a new team environment and... Read More
As a business owner, I've had staff come and go... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
In days past, loyalty was a given. The worker in... Read More
I'm often asked, "Why is my team always fighting fires... Read More
According to the Oxford Dictionary of Current English, to speak... Read More
Team Building Question:I'm a manager of a team of 20... Read More
Internal business structures have been radically transformed over the past... Read More
Workplace safety is important to all businesses for ethical, legal... Read More
No figure in history is like General Patton. He was... Read More
More and more I hear people misunderstanding what someone else... Read More
Team Building |