When Did I.T. Become Such a Big Part Of The Office Manager Job Role?
Office Managers often find themselves at the forefront of IT hardships. We get it! You are the central operations hero, typically overseeing most day-to-day aspects, so when an IT issue arises, you are often the first point of contact for the team.
Communicating
You're a good communicator; you wouldn't be in your role if you weren't! This means you are relied on to relay user-reported issues to the IT department (if you have the luxury of one!) and then be expected to update employees on the status of the IT resolution. Being so central to these issues can feel like you're "bearing the brunt" of any IT hardships swirling about the office, not to mention the pressure to resolve these issues to maintain smooth operations quickly.
Troubleshooting
Sure, it keeps the role interesting - another string to your bow and let's be honest, you're no tech nube, but while some straightforward troubleshooting is very much part of the muck-in section of the job description, what happens when the issues become more complex, and you're left feeling somewhat overwhelmed?
Resources
Before you know it, you're the linchpin in allocating resources for IT-related tasks, such as coordinating repairs, ordering equipment, or managing software licenses...it's a genuine minefield out there if you're not super confident in what you are doing. The added responsibility can be a lot!
If you're an Office Manager,
what should you do to get the support you need?
Consider a conversation with the Practice owners about setting reasonable boundaries to ensure you can focus on your primary responsibilities, and if your organisation consistently relies on non-IT staff for IT troubleshooting, now may be the time to advocate the importance of dedicated IT support and resources to prevent burnout and maintain productivity.
If you're a practice owner,
what should you consider to support your Office Manager?
To alleviate some of the burden and improve IT support in your Practice, consider providing adequate training, resources, and support to help Office Managers handle IT-related challenges more effectively.
This might include establishing clear communication channels with the IT department, offering ongoing basic troubleshooting training, and ensuring a dedicated IT team is available to address more complex issues.
If you need additional IT support to support your Office Manager, explore outsourcing IT tasks or reallocating resources to ensure IT troubleshooting doesn't hinder their core tasks.
Partnership
Partnering with a reliable IT provider can significantly ease an Office Manager's responsibilities by ensuring the Practice's technology environment is secure, efficient, and up-to-date. This enables them to focus on strategic decision-making, supporting the practice owners and the overall management of the Practice.
