Office Management Skills

Professional Development is Critical to Your Long-Term Success as an Office Manager

By TheClassicalScholar | December 11, 2007

When I passed the CPA exam seventeen years ago and joined my state licensing board, I became immediately obligated to complete a minimum number of hours of professional development each year. Professional licensing bodies like the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the American Bar Association, and the American Medical Association understand the value of annual continuing education; consequently, they require a certain number of hours logged in professional development in order to maintain the license to practice. The specific rules and technology of business change so quickly that staying up-to-date is critical to long-term success.

The savvy office manager, administrative assistant, or secretary can take a clue from the professional CPA, attorney, or doctor by planning your own professional development. Although your employer may not require that you participate in continuing education, self-initiated professional development serves two purposes:

you expand your own potential by learning new information
you become more valuable to your employer

In essence, taking responsibility for your own continuing education is two-fold: you help your employer by helping yourself!

Professional Development Satisfies Yourself

There is nothing more satisfying than learning new things, and professional development is an excellent avenue for personal growth! Continuing education can take many forms. You could sign up for a live workshop like one one learning how to use Microsoft Excel or some other computer software unique to your position or industry. If you can’t attend a class in person, you can take a professional development class online or check a book out of the library that teaches you something new. For instance, maybe your boss has decided to give you responsibility for maintaining the department budget. Find an online course or book on budgeting, and stretch your horizons by learning how to compare budget numbers to actual expenditures. You’ll feel so good about yourself, and you may just find that the new information that you have learned can be applied to your personal life beyond your workday. The old adage “use it, or lose it” is really true in that the more you use your brain and your body, the more fit you become intellectually and physically. Take the first step today and brainstorm about what areas of expertise you want to pursue, and start your professional development today!

Professional Development Satisfies Your Employer

As a former supervisor of many staff members, I can tell you from personal experience that nothing pleased me more than a self-motivated employee. Some people might be shy about sharing their self-initiated professional development, but believe me, you should tell your employer what you are doing! Give him or her a chance to note your accomplishments on your personnel record, and next time the review process begins, that info will be duly noted, and you might get a better raise. Even more importantly, your boss will be likely to give you the more exciting pioneer-type work because he knows you are self-motivated and can work independently.

So don’t be complacent and stagnant in your skills as an office manager, administrative assistant, or secretary. Be proactive and take the first step toward lifelong learning, personal satisfaction, and career enhancement by committing to regular professional development. Your long-term success will be greatly improved!

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Guest author, Diane Lockman, is currently home schooling her two teenagers. She writes about her adventures and shares teaching tips for classical Christian home schooling success on her blog, The Classical Scholar.