As a business owner, you’re a rock star. You are a master of your trade, and provide your clients with the best experience they can have. But what about all those other areas of business? Are you the best HR director? Are you a master of developing systems and processes to maximize operational efficiency? Chances are, you’re falling short in at least one of these areas. That’s why you have a manager on your team. But too often, business owners fail to let their managers manage them. That’s why I’m using this entry to look at why, as a business owner, you MUST allow your office manager to manage YOU!
Follow Along With The Financially Simple Podcast!
This week on The Financially Simple Podcast:
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(3:20) The role of an office manager
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(4:17) Hiring your opposite
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(11:26) How I allowed myself to be managed
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(24:00) Don’t stand in the way
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(14:13) Benefits of being managed by your office manager
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(26:53) Steps to relinquishing control
Office Manager – It’s in the Name
Office managers are the backbone of any organization, responsible for ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. They’re experts in people management, communication, and organization, and are essential to the success of your business. Yet, as business owners, we often want to try to control every aspect of our businesses. In doing so, we render the office manager ineffective and greatly increase company-specific risk.
Regardless of the industry, you likely started your business because you saw a need that your particular skill or expertise could fill. However, as your business began to grow, you soon realized that you’re not an expert in every area of your business. Although you may be capable of handling these areas outside of your zone of genius, they’re likely a huge time-suck and probably aren’t things you particularly enjoy doing.
If this sounds familiar, let me ask you this… Why have a manager if you don’t allow them to manage?
The Role of a Business Office Manager
Office management is a full-time job and the person tasked with it is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. This includes managing staff, maintaining office equipment and supplies, managing budgets, handling administrative tasks, AND knowing when and how to respectfully push back on you, the owner. The office manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the team, which allows them to assign tasks and delegate responsibilities accordingly.
One of the most important things to consider when hiring an office manager is to hire someone who complements your skills and personality traits. It’s essential to hire your opposite, as this can bring balance to your business. You must hire someone with the skill sets and behavioral traits to help drive balance in the business. I often suggest using the DISC assessment—or a similar personality profile—in your hiring process to ensure you’re building a team that is able to complement each other.
In My Own Business…
Entrepreneurs are often dominant personalities. We come up with ideas and take off with them, often with little thought about the thousand steps that would have to be completed before the idea can come to fruition. This is where having an office manager who can complement your personality is vital. They can help apply the brakes, giving us pause to really think through each goal. In turn, this allows us to create a direct path toward achieving the goals we have in mind.
I’ll never forget meeting with my dear friend and colleague, Amy, to discuss this need in my own business. I met Amy and her husband for dinner, and told her that I needed someone who wasn’t afraid to tell me “No.” I wanted a manager who could see our team and our business, both as it is, and as it could be. The person I trusted this position to must be willing to respectfully “call me to the carpet,” and explain when what I’ve said was poorly received by clients and team members. I needed a manager to manage me so that I could focus on doing what I do best… Caring for clients and strategically growing the business.
As I described what I needed, Amy’s husband spoke up, saying, “I don’t think Amy will have any problem with that!” We all enjoyed a laugh and Amy has been an integral part of our business ever since. You see, I’m not certain that I would have made the ground that I made in the value growth of my companies if I didn’t have Amy to hold me accountable and help me maintain direction. That’s just one of the benefits of allowing an office manager to manage you.
The Benefits of Being Managed By Your Manager
As I’ve already said, your office manager is a critical in the success of your business. Allowing them to manage you can bring many benefits. However, resisting them and undermining their role can be detrimental to your organization. You see, the more you disregard your manager’s direction, the more disengaged they become. According to a recent Gallup study, poorly engaged managers cost the global economy $8.1 trillion in lost productivity each year. But what can happen when you empower your managers and work with them, listening to their guidance?
One of the benefits of allowing your manager to manage you is increased accountability. When your office manager is responsible for overseeing your work, you are more likely to be accountable for your actions and take ownership of your responsibilities. This can lead to increased productivity and improved communication within the team.
Another benefit is improved decision-making. An office manager is trained to make informed decisions quickly and effectively, and they can provide valuable insights and guidance when needed. By allowing your manager to manage you, you can benefit from their expertise and make better decisions for your business.
Finally, allowing them to perform the job you’ve hired them to do frees you from the burden of managing daily operations, enabling you to work on more strategic things. This can be particularly beneficial for business owners who want to focus on growing their business and developing new ideas.
A Challenge to You
Allowing someone else to manage you can be difficult, especially when you’ve become so used to being in control. However, a Gallup study showed that CEOs who delegate authority grow faster, earn greater revenues, and create jobs faster than those who don’t. So, it’s essential to overcome these challenges and allow your office manager to manage you effectively.
To overcome this challenge, start by assessing what you do best. By identifying your strengths and weaknesses, you can determine what tasks you should delegate to your team. It is also important to choose which area to back out of first. By doing so, you can gradually delegate tasks to your office manager, allowing you to get comfortable with the idea of relinquishing control.
You see, if you’re clinging too tightly to control, you’re probably spending a significant amount of time on tasks that don’t maximize the value of your time. My challenge to you is this… Take stock of your situation and begin delegating these tasks to your team. Allow your manager to manage you so you can work on strategically growing your business. To make it easier on you, I’ve included links to our SWOT analysis, Productivity Assessment, and Strategic Planning worksheets.
Wrapping Up…
Friends, life is hard. But life is also good. Giving up control of your business to grow its value may be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. By hiring an office manager who complements your personality and skillset, and isn’t afraid to respectfully stand up to you, you can see unprecedented growth in your business. Likewise, you could greatly reduce your stress level and make growing your business at least, financially simple. Let’s go out and make it a great day!
Are you “trapped” in your business? Reach out to our team to learn more about how we could help you relinquish control and take your business to the next level.
