Skills in Demand: Essential Traits for Administrative Staff in 2024
Workplace technology and office norms are changing – maybe more than we’ve ever seen before. Established modes of working have been dramatically altered (consider the ubiquity of the hybrid work environment). Administrative staff – people tasked with keeping workplaces organized and running smoothly – have had to sharpen old skills and develop new ones in order to take advantage of new opportunities and adapt to a workplace environment in flux.
As we navigate through this dynamic work environment, certain skills have emerged as essential for those in administrative roles.
In 2024 it’s essential for admin staff to have:
- Strategic Mindset
- Effective Communication
- Interpersonal Skills
- Organizational Principles
- Digital and Data Literacy
- Discretion and Confidentiality
Strategic Mindset – Being an Innovator
Too often, administrative assistants come in with the intent to make efficiency improvements here and there, but not transformational. To be fair, not every position demands this, but there are almost always opportunities to be a transformational figure in an administrative role, creating real value for the organization. How? Each individual organization is different, but leveraging new technology like Chat GPT and other AI tools, automating email processes to clear inbox bloat, and creating inter- and intra-team connections can help reclaim hours and hours of time . . . not to mention kill monotonous tasks. Almost nine hours every week are spent on emails – saving yourself and your coworkers from having to battle inbox overflows can create hundreds of cumulative hours of extra productivity.
Effective Communication – Solving Roadblocks and Bottlenecks
Managing communication in the office in 2024 is much harder than it used to be. Hybrid or totally virtual work environments mean that popping over to the office next to yours for a bit of face time to clear up an issue is far more complicated than it used to be. Being the master of communicating over Zoom and Slack is a must – this includes knowing how to be most effective on each tool (and respecting the etiquette of the workspace). You can also increase the value-add of your position by creating automated reminders, workplace boards, and other tools to help keep things organized and team members accountable to deadlines. Following up on meetings and centralizing information can also be a huge time saver for both you and the team – there’s no need to waste time chasing people for files and other documents in the world of the cloud!
Interpersonal Skills – Making the Team Feel Like a Team
Team cohesion is more difficult than ever to cultivate – and has never been more important. Being able to foster that feeling of community and connection (in part by eliminating the barriers to communication enumerated above) is critical to keeping the team feeling connected and able to function as a unified whole, rather than a bunch of siloed workers. This requires sharpening those people skills so that even if you’re separated by a screen, hundreds of kilometres, and a timezone or two, you’re still able to make everyone feel welcome. You also have to be cognizant of cultural nuances and how to engage effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Organizational Principles – Taking Organization to the Next Level in 2024
With the barriers mentioned above (hybrid and virtual work environments, working with teams across the globe in different timezones, etc.) communication breakdowns are a threat to productivity. But in your role, you can mitigate or even outright prevent these issues. Advanced organizational skills involve implementing efficient systems and processes for workflow management that we mentioned earlier – and keeping them all in good working order. This equates to adopting project management tools and techniques to streamline office operations. Top admin staff do more than just keep things running smoothly – they can even enhance the overall efficiency of the workplace and be a serious value-driver at the business.
Digital and Data Literacy
With the digital transformation of the workplace, administrative professionals must be adept in digital tools and data analysis. This literacy aids in making informed decisions and contributes to strategic planning and reporting.
Discretion and Confidentiality
In an age where data breaches are common, understanding the importance of data security and privacy laws is crucial. This includes being vigilant about potential cyber threats and ensuring that sensitive information is handled with the utmost care. This should be implemented office-wide so that everyone is on the same security page.
Meet All Your Administrative Staffing Needs with TDS Personnel
The role of administrative staff in 2024 demands a blend of traditional skills and a strong grasp of modern technologies and methodologies. These professionals are expected to be versatile, proactive, and integral to the success of their organizations. As we continue to adapt to new ways of working, these skills will be the key to thriving in an administrative capacity.
If you need help meeting your administrative staffing needs, TDS Personnel is a leading recruitment agency Toronto that will match your team with top-tier talent.
We make admin staffing easy by leveraging a large pool of talented candidates and connecting them with organizations that are the perfect fit for their disposition and skillset. Get in touch with our admin staffing agency today and circumvent wasteful and frustrating hiring challenges.
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