You may think the most important person in your office is the CEO or your boss but here are five influential people in the office who can potentially make your working life a living hell.
The receptionist
The receptionist is the assigned gatekeeper of the office. He or she knows exactly what time you arrive, what time you leave for lunch and more importantly what time you come back and leave the office for the day. They are often the first to know when trouble is brewing in the office, are an amazing resource for information about people in the company and are a good source for gossip. The receptionist is often the one person in the office that people think they can trust and is the holder of all the secrets in the office. Don’t get on their bad side or you’ll live to regret it.
The executive assistant
They say behind every great man is a great woman and if so, they were talking about an executive assistant. He or she is the gatekeeper to some of the most important people in the office and they are paid to keep important top level secrets. You won’t be able to schedule a meeting without going through the executive assistant. Get on their good side and you’ll be privy to valuable information such as when the managers are away at meetings and when they are coming back. The executive assistant is top dog in the office but don’t let them intimidate you as their bark is often worse than their bite.
The mailroom assistants
The courier dock often located in the basement is a very mysterious place. It’s very well known for a parcel to go missing at the mailroom or be misplaced even if they have signed for it. If you’re in the habit of getting personal items shipped to the office, the people in the mail room are an important bunch to know. Not only can they notify you on the quiet in case of brown package deliveries and other things you don’t want people in the office to know about, your items are less likely to go walk about if you’re friends with the crew with no view.
The IT assistant
The IT assistant can be your biggest friend or foe in the office. They might seem like they have a friendly gaze behind the slightly smudged glasses but don’t underestimate them for a minute. If you show them the slightest bit of disrespect or show no interest when they are recounting the latest Dr Who episode, you’ll be placed last in the cue and that important PowerPoint presentation that you accidentally deleted will become a distant memory. Remember IT can read your emails, know what internet sites you’re surfing on when you’re boss is in a meeting and know where you’re resume is saved on your PC. Stay on their good side – you have been warned.
Payroll assistant
Never annoy the person who looks after your money – remember this rule … it will serve you well in life. The payroll lady or man may look innocent sitting behind their desk but they know they wield a lot of power in the office and are one of the first to know who will be hired or fired. One slip of the finger and next week’s pay may just not end up in your bank account or your annual leave paperwork may go missing. Befriend this person and you’ll get your petty cash payouts and invoices paid promptly and with a smile.
Keep these five people on side and your established network can give you an advantage over your less connected workmates, help you negotiate office politics and open the door for career advancement and promotions.