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Office Manager Stress at Small Businesses: Beware of Hat Fights!

Posted by Heather Brautman | Thu, Sep 19, 2013 @ 02:45 PM

CrossCheck Cookbook GuideDo you feel stressed, tired and alone as you helm the ship that passes by your small business office? Take heart - you're not the only one feeling office manager stress. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that in May 2012, more than a quarter million people held office manager positions. In businesses across the country, office managers wear many different hats. All that headgear shuffling can lead to dangerous health symptoms you should keep an eye out for.

BBallHat1The Coach: You've got to motivate everyone else in departments across your small business office. (So you're like a cheerleader and a coach, all in one.) Forcing yourself to be cheery for others may even lead to you feeling cheery yourself. But take care that all the relentless coming to the aid of your coworkers doesn't run you down yourself.

 

SergeantHat1The Sergeant: There may be a few employees you'd like to command to drop and give you 50 pushups, but we know you wouldn't risk your career like that. Still, you've got to be stern, which can pile on the office manager stress. Having to perform functions such as letting people go, conducting behavioral warnings, and intervening in personnel issues can raise anxiety in an office manager.

 

CaptainHat1The Cruise Director: The words "It's not in my job description" are not in your job description. In charge of entertainment, procuring birthday cakes and cards, decorating for holidays, and working special events? Of course, all of this comes at the same time you've doing everything else on your roster. Just what you needed - more tasks due on a very specific timeline!

 

FireFighterHat1The Firefighter: Most people run away from the flames; your job often requires you to run directly into the heat. Diffusing hot-headed customers, snuffing out sparks between suppliers, tossing water onto business hot spots. It all can make you feel like a wrung-out wet blanket, not to mention the very real risk of getting burned. It might make you wish for hazard pay just to go in each morning!

 

Chalkboard2Have room for one more? We think you'll like this one.

The Chef: Whether you consider yourself a "foodie" or not, everyone's gotta eat! And though your job may give you only time enough to pay a visit to your microwave, we've got a gift for you. We created The Office Manager Cookbook just for small business office managers, and filled it with nine no-bake, no-stress recipes to warm - and feed - your heart and soul. No, you don't have to wear the white poofy hat, but we think you'll enjoy biting into what we've got. Sink your teeth into it here:

 

office manager tips
 

Topics: Small Business

Written by Heather Brautman