Myth-Busting the Office Management Role

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LinkedIn has created this collaborative space, that I am sure you’ve come across multiple times by now, whereby individuals or experts can contribute and weigh-in on articles and subjects or topics set by AI (find out more here if you’ve been living under a rock and not seen them popping up all over the LI-Show!) Anyway, this tech has invited me many times to contribute to these knowledge topics and I can no longer sit quietly after seeing the amount of incorrect, misunderstood and somewhat insulting responses to topics that tip into or fully sit within the office management profession.

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One of the most viewed of the contributions that I have made seems to be the topic of education and experience for an office manager’s role and whether a degree is needed or not, but the most popular one was about how confused the role seems to be (particularly from other contributors), what the role is and does, in which a number of references have been made to “managing a team” rather than managing a workspace – this is in fact the correct role we are talking about here, as an office manager. There are some responses, which quite frankly are utter nonsense! The misinformation, misconceptions, and sometimes downright baffling comments about the office management profession need to be addressed.

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So, it's high time we set the record straight, debunked the myths, and shed light on what office management truly entails. In my latest article, I'm diving deep into the essence of our profession – what we do, why we do it, and every myth I can bust along the way. Let's separate fact from fiction and give office management the recognition it deserves. Let the myth-busting begin…

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Office Managers are responsible for managing and ensuring a health, safe and productive working environment for all employees, contractors and visitors. They are the heart of the organisation in a very physical way by ensuring that stock and supplies are proactively managed, events are organised and culture is maintained, the work carried out and also the actual environment are safe and all life safety systems and maintenance requirements are covered, policies and procedures are written and reviewed, DSE assessments are carried out, reception (if applicable) is run well, meeting rooms are booked, subscriptions are sorted, post, cars, travel arrangements and couriers are in hand, HR (if they touch on this in a smaller business) is all set, joiners, leavers and transfers departmentally or internationally are onboarded or offboarded as required, equipment is maintained and in stock, asset tracking is done effectively, IT support (again, if they touch on this) is provided or managed if they oversee the contract, and just about everything you can imagine that needs properly procuring is. And that’s only about half of it!

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They’re in these roles because they love diversity, no two days are ever going to be the same and enjoy having to multi-task, have autonomy and be accountable for their many remits. They’ll have tonnes of common sense, be confident and a great communicator interacting with more or less all stakeholders across the business internally and externally, think cleaning team and handyman to CEO and Board. They’ll be highly organised, and proactive to get the job done. And they thrive on it because they take satisfaction from seeing people using and enjoying the space or events they curate and manage.

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What about the myths? Let’s run through my top 4 now…

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Myth 1: Office management is a junior, non-strategic role

The reality: Contrary to popular belief, office management isn't just about ordering stationery and managing the meeting rooms. It's a multifaceted position that requires a diverse skill set and strategic thinking. Office managers are the backbone of the workplace, orchestrating everything from facilities management to employee engagement initiatives. They juggle multiple responsibilities with finesse, all while keeping the wheels of the office turning smoothly, seamlessly with little disruption to the business.

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Myth 2: Office management is an "easy" role.

The reality: Far from it! Office managers are the unsung heroes of the workplace, what I like to refer to as everything but the actors on stage at a well-produced show; handling a myriad of tasks with efficiency and grace. From troubleshooting IT issues to mediating conflicts on air con issues (think one colleague is too hot, the other too cold and they’re literally sat right next to each other, their days are anything but predictable. It takes resilience, adaptability, and a knack for problem-solving to excel in this role. So, next time someone belittles the complexity of office management, kindly direct them to the nearest filing cabinet – they might need a reality check.

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Myth 3: Office managers need a degree.

The reality: Contrary to popular belief, a formal degree is not a prerequisite for success in office management. While education can provide valuable knowledge and skills, what truly sets office managers apart are their communication skills, both written and oral, along with a healthy dose of common sense. On-the-job learning and experience play a significant role in shaping the capabilities of office managers, allowing them to adapt and thrive in dynamic work environments. Continuous learning and development are indeed essential, but they don't necessarily have to come in the form of a degree, we have plenty of opportunities to learn and evolve in the roles as part of our Office Management Course offering in case you are keen to develop further.

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Myth 4: Office managers are simply "managers in an office."

The reality: Let's set the record straight – office managers are not glorified supervisors, team or line managers in an office, in fact some may not even have any direct reports at all. And I am so done with seeing this written in these article responses of people saying "how to manage people which is their role". While they do oversee day-to-day operations within the workspace, their responsibilities extend far beyond managing people. They're strategic thinkers, problem-solvers, and often the go-to person for both employees and upper management. Office managers wear many hats, from HR liaison to budget and procurement wizard, making them indispensable assets to any organisation.

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In debunking these myths, we're shedding light on the vital role that office managers play in the modern workplace. So, let's give credit where credit is due and recognise the invaluable contributions of these unsung heroes. Office management isn't just a job – it's a calling, and those who answer it deserve our utmost respect and appreciation.