CFLM2-CHARACTER FORMATION 2

CHAPTER 10: ADMINISTRATION: SKILLS AND TRAITS

Objectives: 1. Distinguish what is administration.

2. Identify the administration skills and traits.

Administration

The definition of administration refers to the group of individuals who are in

charge of creating and enforcing rules and regulations, or those in leadership positions
who complete important tasks.

https://www.yourdictionary.com/administration

Administrative Skills:

Administrative skills can help you to be well organized, a strong communicator

and enhance your customer service skills. While administrative skills are certainly
important in administrative roles like office managers and receptionists, they are also
helpful in nearly any job. In this article, we take a closer look at what administrative
skills are, why they are important and how you can improve them.

What are administrative skills?

Administrative skills are qualities that help you complete tasks related to
managing a business. This might involve responsibilities such as filing paperwork,
meeting with internal and external stakeholders, presenting important information,
developing processes, answering employee questions and more. There are many
administrative skills that help you perform these responsibilities in an efficient, quality
way.

Why are administrative skills important?

Administrative skills are important because they keep business processes

running smoothly. Any successful, efficient organization should have both
administrative professionals who have strong skills in this area, as well as individual
contributors who have good administrative skills.

Here are a few examples of administrative skills:

Organization

Strong organizational skills to keep your workspace and the office you manage
in order. Having an organized desk, computer and calendar can help you complete
administrative tasks in a quality and time-efficient manner. Administrative
professionals might also be in charge of organizing supply closets, filing systems,
processes and more.

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Communication

Communication is a crucial skill to have when performing administrative tasks.

You must be able to communicate processes and information to others, respond
clearly to questions and requests and more. You must also be able to use
various types of communication including verbal, nonverbal, written and visual
communication.

Teamwork

Having strong teamwork skills can help you when collaborating on

administrative projects, developing a new process, communicating and putting a new
process into place or delegating tasks. Being a good teammate includes practicing
empathy, humility and being a good communicator.

Customer service

In administration, it is common to answer questions for others or perform

certain tasks that others are unable to do themselves. These responsibilities can be
performed well with strong customer service skills which include active listening,
setting expectations and communication.

Responsibility

Tasks related to administration are often important to keeping a business

running efficiently. So, having the responsibility to complete tasks on time and in a
quality manner without much oversight is crucial.

Time management

Because there are so many various responsibilities involved in business

administration, managing your time wisely is a key skill. Maintaining your calendar,
planning time to complete tasks and setting proper timeline expectations are all parts
of being a strong administrator.

Multitasking

As an administrative assistant, you might be asked to handle multiple tasks

simultaneously. It’s not uncommon to have to respond in a timely manner to emails,
answer calls, address in-person requests and handle project requests. Combining
other skills like organization and time management gives you the ability to multitask,
allowing you to manage multiple responsibilities at once by to be able to efficiently.

How to improve administrative skills

Improving your administrative skills can help you to have a stronger work ethic
by completing tasks in a punctual and quality manner while working well with others.
Here are tips you might consider when working on your administrative skills:
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Set personal career goals

Setting specific, measurable goals to increase some or all of the above

administrative skills can help you improve over time. It can help to meet with trusted
friends, colleagues or mentors to identify areas of improvement to determine which
skills you should prioritize.

Get organized

Organization is an important part of being a good administrator. Take time to

make a clean, organized workspace for yourself that can help you prioritize tasks,
manage your time well and respond quickly to others who need the information you
have.

Mimic other strong administration skills

If you have a colleague or manager that has strong administrative skills that
you find effective, try adopting their practices in your own work. For example, if you
find that their style of note-taking is especially helpful, you might also practice taking
notes in this way.

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/administrative-skills

Traits for Administration

There are many essential characteristics of a systems administrator that cover a

wide spectrum of personal and professional traits. Despite the unassuming job title,
these professionals often face a diversity of challenges that test their mental and
physical ability. Administrators are primarily problem-solvers and coordinators, so
they need to leverage technical, social and organizational skills on a routine basis.
These characteristics can be learned through practice and self-application, but
students and prospective professionals should consider the demands of the profession
as they prepare for a career.

1. Ability to Communicate and Collaborate

Even though systems administrators are technical experts who are responsible
for the performance of computer and network equipment, they also stand at the
intersection between the leaders of their organization, personnel from other
departments and their team members. Administrators need to understand the various
perspectives within their work environment so they can effectively communicate key
information and collaborate with non-technical professionals. Strong personal
communication ability is also always an asset in administrative roles.

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2. Organizational Awareness

Just as administrators need to understand the perspective of others within

their organization, they also need a solid grasp on the overall processes and objectives
of their employer. Senior professionals often provide advice directly to decision-makers
based on their knowledge and experience. They need to at least understand the major
factors at play, like financial or logistical concerns, and their potential impact on the
entire organization.

3. Advanced Technical Expertise

Above all else, systems administrators are technical experts who are expected to
know more about the computer and network systems than anyone else. They are often
the go-to person for problems and decisions regarding the organization’s systems, so
they need to have a comprehensive and cutting-edge understanding of the technology.
While they usually aren’t expected to be completely familiar with the hardware and
software immediately, applicants do need to demonstrate fundamental skills.

4. Pursuing Professional Development

A strong foundation of academic and internship experience is a good start for

job seekers, but getting hired is certainly not the end of the learning experience. A
consistent desire for professional development is one of the most important
characteristics of a systems administrator. Continuing education and development
also creates opportunities to develop advanced skills to seek specialized careers.
Focusing on cybersecurity can open up opportunities as a data security administrator,
which has strong career potential in the years ahead, according to Forbes.

5. Flexibility and Problem Solving

Administrators solve problems of all shapes and sizes, ranging from simple
cases of operator error to devastating technical difficulties. It’s hard to predict these
issues, so administrators don’t usually have a normal daily routine. Adapting to
sudden or difficult circumstances is just part of the job. As a senior expert on the
organization’s computer systems, administrators need to be able to work under
pressure or under demanding deadlines.

https://affordableschools.net/lists/5-characteristics-of-a-systems-administrator/

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