Finding Meaning In The Day-To-Day

Office management, or operations management, is monotonous. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of interruptions and surprise tasks that break up the daily grind. I actually like to think of office managers as the EMT’s of the business. They’re the first responders to anything, and everything, related to the organization. Broken toilet—call the landlord. Impromptu meeting—schedule it, attend, and take notes. Onsite technician needs a part—go to the hardware store. 

However, from a bird’s eye view, most of the daily, weekly, and monthly tasks are the same. 

Truthfully, this is why many, including myself, are attracted to this profession. It’s predictable (barring the above), it’s black and white (for the most part), and rhythmic (certain tasks will always need to be completed on certain days). There’s a comfort in this familiar flow; a particular reassurance in knowing what’s coming. 

The risk of such a scheduled and calendarized career, however, is boredom. And this boredom can lead to apathy, which can then lead to an overall feeling of meaninglessness. Repetitive, office-related tasks may be predictable, but they’re often devoid of any real significance. 

In my 6+years of office management, I’ve often felt like an automaton, robotically checking items off my to-do list. This is why I’ve almost left the profession several times. All humans need a sense of meaning and purpose. We need to know that what we’re doing matters. We want to feel like our efforts have an impact. It’s no different when it comes to our professions. 

As an office manager, finding meaning in the day-to-day can be challenging. Yet, meaning can be found. 

In psychology, there’s something called Gestalt theory, which states that the whole of anything is greater than its parts. Essentially, the result, the end product, the bigger picture is better because of all the moving pieces that made it possible. And, these moving pieces are invaluable because of what they contribute to the whole. While Gestalt theory is really based on the study of human sensation and perception, I think it’s tremendously relevant to the field of office management. 

Office managers play a critical role in the flow of the company. We’re the glue that keeps the organization running. We’re the life force behind it. Businesses would fail to function without our crucial contributions.

Our part in the organization is made up of many, many little parts, such as, billing, payroll, scheduling, staff oversight, and communication with clients (just to name a few). These little parts, which create our bigger part, which contributes to the whole, are absolutely necessary. 

This is how I survive the daily drudgery of office management. From a Gestalt vantage point, my tasks take on a different meaning. Seeing myself, and my contributions, as a necessary component of the organization (rather than just another checklist), brings significance to the mundane. Knowing that my part is vital transforms the monotony.

Like I mentioned earlier, office managers are the EMTs of the office. However, in many ways, we’re also the captains, the ambassadors, the overseers. With so many important roles, it’s hard not to see the importance of the work we do. Our part is an invaluable piece of the whole. And this recognition is where meaning is found.