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
taxi to O'Hare Belle Rive .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare7 Key Dimensions of High Performance Teams We can always... Read More
Survival: The Name of the New Economic Game People rarely... Read More
As a business owner, I've had staff come and go... Read More
The world of work has changed. It used to be... Read More
The effects of conflict in the workplace are widespread and... Read More
We all know someone who just drives us batty. Perhaps... Read More
Teams are often useful in situations where the task cannot... Read More
It's not true in every organization, but it is true... Read More
One of the best lessons I have learned is the... Read More
The ability to build effective teams is a must for... Read More
Several years ago I took an assignment as a Manager... Read More
It's the summer of 1973, and a young film director... Read More
Did you know your work environment can actually make you... Read More
TEAM LEADERS WORKSHOPAlice asked Cheshire cat "which road should I... Read More
The other day I got a call from a friend... Read More
You are new to Internet Marketing, you join one Affiliate... Read More
Effective and sustainable teambuilding is necessary in today's marketplace where... Read More
Sometimes the greatest challenges lay not within the actions of... Read More
Having experienced more than my fair share of conflict over... Read More
This sports cliche is a memorable phrase that reminds people... Read More
As the world of manufacturing has become increasingly competitive, managers... Read More
Recently my fourteen-year old son Matt dressed up as Santa... Read More
Team Building Question:A team is full of animosity, pretended interpersonal... Read More
Why do we human beings complicate things? Is it that... Read More
"Conflict becomes politics, commitment becomes 'Only if it's in my... Read More
ohare limo service Bristol ..It's not true in every organization, but it is true... Read More
In days past, loyalty was a given. The worker in... Read More
Let's look at the detail of giving feedback. Whether you... Read More
Most managers simply herd some people in a room with... Read More
Winning teams aren't created by accident. Rather, the team or... Read More
In a recent group coaching session, a client mentioned that... Read More
Teams, teams, teams. They're all the rage these days. Whether... Read More
The Fantasy: Your marketing budget is packed to the brim... Read More
Multiculturalism is a reality in North America and for those... Read More
People who lead the best teams realise early on that... Read More
The Dance of ConflictWhen faced with the prospect of meeting... Read More
Feedback:Most experts agree both types; constructive and positive feedback are... Read More
Maybe you find yourself in a new team environment and... Read More
The effects of conflict in the workplace are widespread and... Read More
Do you let your people express their thoughts about the... Read More
One of the best ways to ensure that your planning... Read More
Too often teams aren't assembled. They just happen. A project... Read More
Team Building Question:Our office has recently learned that about 20... Read More
Someone once said - "Feedback is the breakfast of champions."... Read More
Do you remember how you felt after your last interaction... Read More
Why do some teams perform well while others struggle? How... Read More
There is a WHOLE lot of talk these days about... Read More
When leaders, consultants and managers require ideas, they automatically tend... Read More
Franchisors should also be heavy on the award side of... Read More
There's nothing that matches the power of teamwork to accomplish... Read More
Team Building |