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
top rated cleaning service Lake Forest ..Several years ago I took an assignment as a Manager... Read More
For a brief time, I tried to sell life insurance.... Read More
I'm often asked, "Why is my team always fighting fires... Read More
Franchisees of a particular franchise must get along in order... Read More
Do you let your people express their thoughts about the... Read More
Project Head Start has been successful not only for the... Read More
So much has been written on this subject; Team Work,... Read More
Presenteeism is alive and 'not well' in many businesses today.... Read More
There is a WHOLE lot of talk these days about... Read More
Truth on mlmDid you know that the truth on mlm... Read More
TEAM LEADERS WORKSHOPAlice asked Cheshire cat "which road should I... Read More
A Successful Team is built around mateship, around respect for... Read More
The ability to build effective teams is a must for... Read More
Effective and sustainable teambuilding is necessary in today's marketplace where... Read More
The people in your team may feel a bit uncomfortable... Read More
On the trail in Northern Canada "Marche" was the word... Read More
As the world of manufacturing has become increasingly competitive, managers... Read More
As a manager, your employees will come to you with... Read More
The second in a series of 2 articles giving a... Read More
It's not true in every organization, but it is true... Read More
Feedback:Most experts agree both types; constructive and positive feedback are... Read More
A lot of effort has been carried out in the... Read More
We live in very progressive times, one only has to... Read More
Maybe you find yourself in a new team environment and... Read More
As I work with clients to strengthen their teams and... Read More
insured cleaning company Morton Grove ..Why do we human beings complicate things? Is it that... Read More
To be a success is not always to be a... Read More
Someone once said - "Feedback is the breakfast of champions."... Read More
A tight knit team is a group of competent individuals... Read More
Remember playing in your childhood sandbox? If you enjoyed being... Read More
Team Building Question:I'm a manager of a team of 20... Read More
In a recent group coaching session, a client mentioned that... Read More
Do you let your people express their thoughts about the... Read More
Teams, teams, teams. They're all the rage these days. Whether... Read More
Did you know your work environment can actually make you... Read More
For a brief time, I tried to sell life insurance.... Read More
Most believe that leadership is an innate quality that some... Read More
Several years ago I took an assignment as a Manager... Read More
It's all about focusing on where the best value in... Read More
As the world of manufacturing has become increasingly competitive, managers... Read More
Teams run most businesses and teams work best if each... Read More
If you own a franchise you would be wise to... 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
A tight knit team is a group of competent individuals... Read More
Perhaps you're a small business owner wondering how you and... Read More
Just today my partner Russ and I sat down to... Read More
"When teamwork kicks in, nobody can beat you." Don Shula,... Read More
Having experienced more than my fair share of conflict over... Read More
Presenteeism is alive and 'not well' in many businesses today.... Read More
Team Building |