Regardless of industry or company size, office administrators are the people who keep everything running smoothly day to day, week to week, year to year. And that includes remote working situations as well as the physical office. Administrators – office managers, executive assistants, administrative assistants, and more – are crucial to the functionality of a business, but their importance goes beyond that. Admins are essential for company culture, too.
Let’s take a closer look at the ways administrators impact company culture and success.
What Makes Admins So Important?
Administrators’ jobs are as varied as their titles. From handling business communication and ordering supplies to managing executives’ schedules, planning company events, and much more, these individuals are involved in nearly every aspect of the company. Almost everyone in the office relies on the admin’s skill sets in one way or another. But it’s not just the tasks these people perform every day that makes them so important.
Admins have a bird’s eye view of a company’s functionality and access to practically all parts of the business – that includes personnel schedules, finances, contact information, and much more. They’re expert problem-solvers who excel at coming up with quick, effective solutions when problems arise. That wide reach coupled with the ability to answer questions and get things done has a huge impact on company culture.
What Do Admins Do?
As we’ve seen, admins have a wide range of responsibilities, and these can vary depending on the role, the company, and the industry. Here are some of the everyday tasks that most administrative professionals perform:
- Communication – answering incoming phone calls, emailing, etc.
- Scheduling – managing schedules for leadership or executives
- Planning – arranging appointments, tracking project progress, etc.
- Coordinating – managing training, onboardings, office procedures, and more
- Customer service – handling customer complaints, managing outreach, etc.
- Travel – arranging travel plans and booking accommodation for company members
- Meetings – taking notes, scheduling follow-ups, etc.
- Inventory – tracking and ordering supplies
- Filing – maintaining effective systems for filing letters, reports, and other documents
What Skill Sets Do Admins Need?
Because they’re so essential to company functions and culture, administrators need several key skills to be successful. Admins should be flexible thinkers who are adept at problem-solving and open, transparent communication. Time management is vital since admins spend a lot of their time ensuring efficient operations and scheduling. Depending on the role, marketing skills and other business skills (accounting, data analysis, etc.) can be very useful.
Admin roles will require certain technical skills, too. Examples include knowledge of specific computer systems and software applications, document creation, data entry skills, spreadsheet management, creating presentations, and more.
Admins: The Unsung Heroes of Your Company
Admins have a hand in so many company functions that they can’t be viewed as anything other than essential members of the team. And when you have happy, productive admins on your staff, it spreads to the whole company and to customers as well – remember that admins are often the first people a customer will speak to on the phone or when visiting your office.
Admins who embody your company’s core values and mission lead by example and show everyone else what it means to be a great employee. Their contributions – toward both day-to-day tasks and improving company culture – shouldn’t be ignored.
