Today’s office administrative professionals are no longer limited to simple tasks such as managing calendars, answering phones, and making meeting agendas. The trends include taking on more responsibilities that play crucial roles in decision-making, managing projects, and advising lower-level management.
Other trends that are continuing to emerge in most organizations include working flexible schedules, working remotely, and mastering new technologies. With comprehensive training, office professionals can master their employers’ expectations.
Why We Need Office Administrative Professionals
An office administrator is the backbone of an organization because this professional performs vital activities for management and office employees. Office leaders continue to explain goals, train and motivate workers, accept accountability, and keep their offices operating at peak efficiency and productivity. They participate more in:
- Decision-Making – Highly qualified office leaders are better trained in making higher-level decisions for their staff, department, and supervisors.
- Project Management – Office professionals are trusted to manage more complex and expensive projects than in the past.
- Advising Management – Office administrators are often asked to be team members for their input for management. They provide different ideas and experiences that provide more options for all levels of management to consider.
Administrators keep office staff focused on the office, department, and company objectives. They solve problems, handle disputes, and coordinate work progress with their supervisors.
Flexible Schedules Benefits
A growing trend in office administration is allowing administrators and staff members to work flexible schedules. Administrators must coordinate any changes in work schedules to ensure all weekly assignments are completed. This can take several forms, including:
- Set up a combination of in-office and remote work with individuals
- Allow staff to start earlier or later or end earlier or later than usual
- Alternate days and times for individuals or groups of people
- Let staff work fewer days in a week but work more hours per day
- Make sure the payroll is equitable for all staff members
| “Today’s office administrators are no longer limited to simple tasks such as managing calendars, answering phones, and making meeting agendas.” |
Administrative Professionals And Remote Work
Current economic and business conditions have led many organizations to assign remote work to their office administrators. This has evolved to save expenses, protect workers from sickness, and keep businesses competitive. Much of this work is accomplished by:
- Using virtual communication tools
- Develop excellent remote collaboration
- Organized virtual events
- Coordinate support for remote teams
Two of the advantages office leaders enjoy are hiring and retaining great talent who can live almost anywhere in or out of the state. They can hire more qualified workers who are not limited by distance to the office and avoid being restricted to a small talent pool.
Many employees have successfully adjusted to remote work and they prefer it to coming to the office every day. They can avoid waiting in long traffic lines, being late to work, having high commuting expenses, and having more time at home.
Integrating New Technologies
New technologies continue to emerge for office work, and office administrative professionals may work with a team to choose the most cost-effective and appropriate ones for their companies, such as:
- Automated Lighting allows offices to conserve electricity costs with a mobile device
- Digital Whiteboards allow unlimited space, graphics, and icons to help users draw models and designs
- Mobile Software is used for flexible work arrangements for remote staff and booking appointments and hotels
- Office Automation and AI creates more efficiency and higher productivity
- Remote Security Monitoring allows monitoring of all security systems that can eliminate the need for on-site security outside working hours
- Smart Conferencing strengthens communication with video conferencing software, virtual whiteboard software, and quality webcams
- Visitor Management Systems let offices provide a seamless check-in process for visitors
Training Needs To Meet Current Trends
The best way to launch an office administration career is by earning an associate degree from an accredited college. The training will prepare you for an entry-level position where there is potential to advance to an office administrator. The essential training you will gain includes:
- Overview of a successful office setting and procedures
- General business practices and Microsoft business software
- Effective use of computers and communication
- General business terminology, ethics, and law
- Supervising and leading employees to reach goals
- Human resources and records management
Students also gain skills in web-based technologies, technical writing, and resume preparation. They choose two elective courses to tailor their studies to specific interests or choose an externship to apply their skills. Students can specialize in business or healthcare administration. Contact us today to learn more about our Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS) Degree in Office Administration.
For more information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at: https://iticollege.edu/disclosures/
