20 Key Attributes Administrative Services Managers Need To Succeed In Their Career

by Ethan Jones

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Administrative services managers plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, facilities planning and maintenance, custodial operations, and other office support services.

The core tasks that administrative services managers are likely to carry out include:

Direct or coordinate the supportive services department of a business, agency, or organization.
Prepare and review operational reports and schedules to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
Set goals and deadlines for the department.
Acquire, distribute and store supplies.
Analyze internal processes and recommend and implement procedural or policy changes to improve operations, such as supply changes or the disposal of records.

In order to successfully forge ahead with their careers, analysts in a survey carried out by U.S. Department of Labor (via O*NET) have marked out the following as important attributes that administrative services managers would need. These attributes have been selected from characteristics and requirements strongly associated with the occupation. They are

Abilities: Enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance
Interests: Preferences for work environments. Occupational Interest Profiles (OIPs) are compatible with Holland's (1985, 1997) model of personality types and work environments. Six interest categories are used to describe the work environment of occupations: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. An OIP consists of six numerical scores indicating how descriptive and characteristic each work environment (or interest area) is for an occupation
Knowledge: Organized sets of principles and facts applying in general domains
Skills: These include basic skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate learning or the more rapid acquisition of knowledge. Plus cross-functional skills, which are developed capacities that facilitate performance of activities that occur across jobs
Style: Personal characteristics that can affect how well someone performs a job

We have listed out attributes which were scored 80% or more in terms of importance by the analysts.

Having a strong preference for enterprising work environments. Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Attribute Type: Interests Score: 100%

Being honest and ethical.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 95.4%

Being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 94.6%

Being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 92.6%

Being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 90.4%

Developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 89.8%

A willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 87.4%

Maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 87.4%

Being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 85.4%

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 84.8%

Being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 84.2%

Accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 83.8%

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 83.4%

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Attribute Type: Knowledge Score: 82%

Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Attribute Type: Skills Score: 80%

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 80%

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 80%

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 80%

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Attribute Type: Abilities Score: 80%

A willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Attribute Type: Style Score: 80%