A Day in the Life of An Operations Manager: Brooke Johnson

Join us for an exclusive glimpse behind the curtains with Brooke Johnson, a Senior Operations Manager at Conference Catalysts. Explore her dynamic role as she unveils a typical day and shares invaluable insights for aspiring operations managers.

What does a typical day look like for your role?

In my role, there’s no such thing as a “typical” day—each day brings its own set of challenges and tasks. Generally, my day starts at 8 a.m. with coffee, followed by reviewing my calendar, email, and to-do list to prioritize tasks. I use the 5-minute rule for emails: if a response or task takes less than 5 minutes, I handle it immediately; otherwise, I add it to my to-do list for later. I aim to spend no more than an hour on emails each morning.

Mornings are typically filled with team and client meetings. I meet with my team twice a week to discuss priorities and progress, and attend various client meetings, including committee and Executive Committee calls. I prefer to schedule these meetings in the morning so I can reserve the rest of the day for completing tasks and strategic planning.

After lunch, I tackle larger tasks from my to-do list and check emails again, responding to any new messages. I end my day by reviewing and reprioritizing tasks for the next day.

While each day can vary based on client needs and emerging issues, my focus remains on maintaining smooth operations, solving problems, and continuously improving processes.

What skills are most important for success in this role?

While this role is extremely diverse, there are several key skills that are important for success.

• Strong project management and problem-solving abilities help tackle challenges and keep projects on track.
• Adaptability and flexibility are important for adapting to changing circumstances and challenges.
• Customer Focus is key to aligning operations with client needs and ensuring high-quality service.
• Clear, concise communication with all stakeholders is of the utmost importance.
• A deep understanding of process improvement methodologies is also important for streamlining workflows and enhancing efficiency.

By mastering these skills, operations managers can effectively oversee daily activities, drive efficiency, and contribute to organizational success.

Are there any tips or tricks that help you complete your responsibilities?

My approach to completing my responsibilities is to question the status quo and look for ways to improve processes. I always ask myself if there’s a better or more efficient way to accomplish a task or approach a project. By continuously evaluating processes, I often find opportunities for improvement. If a task can be automated, I take the time to set it up, which ultimately saves time and reduces the chance of errors. This mindset of constant improvement and efficiency helps me stay on top of my responsibilities.

What is the most rewarding part of your job at Conference Catalysts?

The most rewarding part of my job is the relationships I’ve built with my clients and coworkers worldwide. There's something truly special about working with the same individuals for 7+ years and watching those connections grow and evolve. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the impact of these long-term relationships, both personally and professionally.

How do you stay organized?

I rely on a few key strategies that work well together to stay organized. I keep a written to-do list for daily tasks, which helps me prioritize and stay focused. For managing larger projects, I use ClickUp as my go-to project management tool, allowing me to track progress, set deadlines, and collaborate with others seamlessly. Additionally, I keep my calendar up-to-date, ensuring that all meetings, deadlines, and important events are accounted for. These methods help me stay on top of my responsibilities and maintain a clear overview of my workload.

What are some of the common challenges you encounter in this role?

Some common challenges I encounter in an operations manager role include:

• Balancing Efficiency with Quality: Maintaining high productivity levels while ensuring that quality standards are met can be challenging. It requires continuous monitoring and fine-tuning of processes.
• Effective Communication: Communicating with individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds can be especially challenging.
• Time Management: Time management can also be difficult at times, as I often need to adapt to an ever-changing list of priorities, ensuring that key tasks are completed on time without compromising on other responsibilities.

What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing this career path?

My advice would be to develop strong leadership and communication skills, focus on continuous learning and building strong relationships, and embrace adaptability.

Interested in learning more about Conference Catalysts? Explore our website.

Conference Catalysts has been named a Great Place to Work-Certified? company for the second consecutive year. Join our amazing group of talented, inspiring team members today.

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