What Are Misconeptions About Office Managers?
Ever wondered what office managers really do? In this Q&A, insights from a Founder and an office manager shed light on common misconceptions. Learn how office managers shape company success and discover the many responsibilities they juggle. This article covers a total of four expert insights.
- Office Managers Shape Company Success
- Office Managers Contribute Strategic Insights
- Office Managers Balance Many Responsibilities
- Office Managers Are Highly Specialized
Office Managers Shape Company Success
The Strategic Role of Office Managers in Shaping Success
One misconception employees often have about office managers is that they simply manage day-to-day logistics, like ordering supplies or scheduling. In reality, they play a much more strategic role in the company.
I realized this early on when my office manager saved us during a critical period. We were expanding our team, and the onboarding process was chaotic, with new hires feeling lost. She stepped in, revamped the onboarding system, coordinated between departments, and ensured each new hire felt welcomed and fully equipped.
That experience taught me just how essential office managers are—not just for keeping things organized, but for fostering a positive and productive work environment.
Office Managers Contribute Strategic Insights
In our local SEO agency, we often encounter misconceptions that can affect team dynamics. One common belief among employees is that office managers only handle administrative tasks and do not contribute to the company's strategic goals. This viewpoint can lead to misunderstandings about the value office managers bring to the table.
For instance, we had an office manager who was initially viewed as just the person who organized schedules and managed supplies. However, as we started focusing on improving our clients' Google Business Profiles, it became clear that her insights were crucial. She recognized trends in client feedback and shared data from our internal tools that highlighted areas for improvement.
Her input led to the development of new training materials that helped our team better optimize client profiles. By engaging with client interactions, she provided a unique perspective that enriched our SEO strategies. Over time, the team began to see her not just as an administrator but as a key player in achieving our goals.
Office Managers Balance Many Responsibilities
Throughout my career, one of the biggest misconceptions about Office Managers I've run into (especially in the start-up sector) is that we have "such laid-back/easy jobs."
Most employees only see the final product: a neat and organized conference room, supplies always there when needed, holiday festivities planned and executed to perfection, special occasions catered, etc.
What most employees don't see is the attention to detail and time that make the conference room look exceptional, the time it takes to track consumption of supplies so that we don't run out and are still within budget, the dedication and research needed to find the right venue, food, and decor for the awesome holiday festivities—all while balancing various other needs that come across our plates (facilities, onboarding, vendor management).
Office Managers Are Highly Specialized
Office managers are assumed to be unspecialized and perhaps less-educated. It's rare that the general staff and managers understand that an office manager/administrative assistant is a specialty. It requires knowledge of every aspect of the operations, relationships, staff and executive team dynamics, every team's goals, and even whether we need more expo markers. An office manager most often can answer questions for just about everything in the organization, or at least point to exactly who has the answer.