Tips on How to Become a Good Office Manager

Many people believe that an office manager has a piece of cake job. They picture them sitting at a desk, looking pretty and holding a cup of coffee. However, little do they realize, office managers-especially if they are new at the job-have a tough position. While some office managers are in the position just to get a good paycheck, others want to leave a lasting positive impression on the company and the people he is working for. If you want to be a step ahead of the rest, you want to be-at the minimum-a good office manager. These following tips will show you if have what it takes.

You must be able to handle several different tasks at the same time in order for you daily operations to run smoothly. For example, you may be working on a training plan. Then the phone rings and you have to take the call.

You must be able to go back to the training plan once you are finished on the phone. Then, you may also have to take over another person's work if he gets sick and has to leave. If you are able to multitask, without running around like a chicken that has its head cut off, is a good sign that you are moving in the right direction.

You must have excellent organizational skills. This is a must if you want the operations in your office to run smoothly. For example, if there is a lot of paper work involved in the office, you must have a system of understanding of what is coming in each day and what needs to be sent out.

You also need a way to properly document and file paperwork. If you have paperwork that is scattered all over the office, things will not run smoothly when you have to search through a pile of papers. Not only do you have to be organized, your entire staff has to be on the same sheet of music.

You need to have knowledge of all operations that go on in the office. Having technical skills is a must for problem solving and trouble shooting. For example, you cannot do an effective job if you do not have the basic understanding of operating a computer or sending a fax.

You must also develop excellent listening skills. If somebody has an issue, you must be able to listen to what the individual is saying and be able to respond in the right way. If you do not know the answer to a question, you have to be honest and offer to find out and get back to the person.

You must be able to treat everybody in your office with the highest respect. Being a people person, or having excellent interpersonal skills, is one of the major leadership skills that you must acquire to be an excellent office manager. This does not mean that you have to be friends with everybody who is under you. However, it does show that you care about them and demonstrate that their jobs are just as important as yours.

As a good office manager, you must remember this last point. When things run smoothly in your office, you did not do this all by yourself. You have staff working for you; and these are the key personnel that make the operations flow smoothly. Make sure that you give them some sort of recognition whether it is a simple thank you or a bonus.