Office Managers: the new architects of hybrid work

How does hybrid working redefine the role of office managers?

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This transition to flexible working has turned the daily lives of employees and companies upside down, creating new organizational priorities. And more often than not, it is Office Managers who are responsible for the operational transition. To make this transition a success, their role extends to three major areas.

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Facilitating team flexibility and mobility

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One of the first challenges facing Office Managers is how to manage flexibility. Hybrid working means that employees alternate between telecommuting and physical presence in the office. We see them, we see them more. We see them more, we see them more.

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This fluctuating presence of employees calls for the adoption of appropriate digital tools to monitor their comings and goings, and thus ensure seamless coordination. This is one of our specialties at Worklib: helping you design and manage your hybrid work strategy. Whether it's anticipating the number of seats available, booking spaces, monitoring equipment or accessing shared resources, Office Managers become the real conductors of hybrid workspace planning.

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Creating attractive and safe working environments

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Another of their top priorities is to ensure the safety and well-being of employees, whether in the office or at home. In this sense, Office Managers play an essential role in creating attractive, functional and safe working environments.

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In the office, this means designing spaces to respect the needs of employees, by installing equipment that promotes their well-being. This can take the form of ergonomic workstations, modular collaborative spaces or adapted rest areas.

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From a distance, Office Managers ensure that employees have the equipment they need to work in good conditions (whether at home or in a coworking space), and can access resources that promote their health and productivity. The example of BlaBlaCar's new offices is a perfect illustration of this: it's a 100% flex office, designed to encourage encounters through work and living spaces.

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Uniting and maintaining the corporate culture

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In a context where teams are geographically dispersed, preserving corporate culture and reinforcing a sense of belonging is a new challenge that can seem like a balancing act. To meet this challenge, Office Managers are now incorporating an event-driven dimension into their scope. They organize hybrid events that bring employees together, whether they're in the office or working from home.

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These moments are essential for recreating bonds, reinforcing team spirit, and reminding everyone that they're part of a common adventure. Which reminds us of the power of rituals to strengthen the collective.

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In collaboration with HR teams, they can set up wellness programs, team buildings and regular communications to ensure that the company's values remain present in employees' minds.

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New essential skills for Office Managers

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In response to the expansion of their missions, the skills of Office Managers have had to evolve and expand. Today, their role is defined as "the fusion of the functions of administrative and financial manager and general services manager. Their aim is to make life easier for operational staff, so that they can concentrate on their core business"(1).

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Managing the tools that support productivity

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With the rise of hybrid working, mastery of digital tools has become essential for Office Managers. Today, they are the ones who select, implement and manage the digital tools that enable teams to collaborate easily, wherever they may be.

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Their role is to ensure that processes run smoothly, that tools work without a hitch, and that everyone has access to the resources they need to remain productive. This new technological dimension makes them the guardians of efficiency, even at a distance.

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Administrative management and financial optimization to ensure operational stability

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The administrative and financial aspect, already central to the Office Manager's role, is even more so in a flexible working environment. They manage budgets for workspaces, equipment and services. Budgeting, expense management and cost optimization, all with a hybrid vision: these aspects need to be anticipated and managed for both face-to-face and remote working. We told you: real superheroes!

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Leadership and relaying management's vision

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Office Managers also play a strategic relay role between management and teams. Their mission is no longer limited to administrative or logistical management: they ensure that the vision of senior management is not only understood, but also embodied and disseminated at all levels of the organization. Acting as true connecting agents, they build bridges between the various departments.

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Their interpersonal and leadership skills are therefore crucial assets in uniting employees, while at the same time instilling management's energy and objectives throughout the company.

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On certain missions, the boundary with HR is fine, particularly on subjects such as human resources management or training. These multiple responsibilities make Office Managers one of the company's strategic support functions, ensuring the fluidity and efficiency of everyone's day-to-day work.

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The pivotal role of the Office Manager is not just a response to post-Covid constraints, but an opportunity to redefine work environments for the long term and support companies in their hybrid transformation.

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<font size="-1">Nos sources</font>

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<font size="-1">(1) https://www.clubdesofficemanagers.com/office-manager </font>