Running a business requires the participation of a lot of people. Each person can play a different role in the smooth function of an office, from the executive with an inspirational vision, to the office operations manager who ensures that everyday operations run smoothly.
The roles of office operations managers have been impacted by new technologies that have transformed the shape of the office. An office operations manager is mainly responsible for coordinating the administration of the business. They organize different people: some of these individuals may work on-site, while others from remote locations. Office operations managers need to be able to provide balanced supervision of people who are working from remote locations, or even across national borders. As they are in a leadership role, an office operations manager must often coordinate other staff members such as administrative assistants, clerks, or receptionists. Depending on the size and function of the business, they may work closely with other administrators like accountants, sales managers, technical staff, or business leadership.
Office operations managers have a head for organization and logistics. Good office operations managers are able to identify the organization’s internal needs and develop a plan for how to meet them. Because this role requires a lot of coordinating between different groups of people, the abilities to read people and to solve problems are very important. Office operations managers working in businesses with international reach should have extensive cultural sensitivity and a familiarity with the immigration and travel issues that their colleagues may encounter.