TOP ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS FOR SUCCESS

Ah! Where would businesses be without their administration professionals? Up the proverbial creek without a paddle in many cases. Because behind every business success story is a strong support team propelling the craft forwards. From receptionists to executive assistants and office managers, administration professionals make an important difference if they have the required skills.

Here are the top administrative skills for success in this field:

Time Management

If you work in administration, you have a to-do list that grows rather than shrinks with every passing hour! Good administration professionals don’t let this faze them. They’re adept at scheduling and rescheduling. They prioritise the most urgent tasks, minimise distractions and maintain focus until they complete them. They know which tasks are the least important and can be pushed back to another day. Senior administrators may choose to delegate to other members of the team.

Organisation/Coordination

A good administration professional has the ability to be organised and to organise others. They know where things are kept (they have likely filed them after all). They know when supplies are low and when to place an order, so they don’t run out completely. They also know what’s happening and when, and who is involved. And that’s not just for their schedule, but often schedules for others in the organisation.

IT

An administration professional needs to be an all-round IT guru. They can rustle up spreadsheets, set up mail merges and create fabulous slide decks to wow your clients – without batting an eyelid. A good administrator is also able to master new applications, and then train others in them. And they are often the go-to person in their organisation for computer issues, both hardware and software. Where would we be without them?!

Communication

Communication is many things: listening, writing, speaking, demonstrating respect and empathy. . . An administration professional needs to be across all of them. From answering client enquiries to meeting and greeting visitors, writing emails and typing up reports or minutes, communication comes into everything they do, every day.

Autonomy

The best admin professionals are often those who are confident and capable of working independently. They know what to do with minimal prompting and supervision, and they get the job done. In larger organisations, especially, they are also adept at working in a team, collaborating on projects with others to improve service provision and business outcomes.

Problem-Solving

The ability to think creatively is an essential administrative skill. Whether it’s an issue concerning clients, co-workers, managers, suppliers or IT, an administration professional will line up options, analyse them and implement a solution that works. Often without the need to escalate to management.

Administrative roles are vital not just for keeping businesses afloat but for keeping them moving. When they have the right set of skills, administrative professionals can propel themselves and their organisations to success.

If you’re an admin professional looking for a new craft to paddle, contact the team on info@optimalrecruitment.com.au or 02 8416 4181.