Try saying that title ten times fast, eh?
Researching operations this week has been exciting! It’s interesting to see how many different shapes it can take and how integral it is to a company’s life.
These are the traits and skills that will greatly improve your chances of success within the role based on my discoveries.
Knowledge of your company’s tech and functions
If you’re going to be involved with every working piece of a business, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with the software, programs, and services of said business. As Emony Anderson put it: “Know any tools related to company communication like the back of your hand.”
Resilience and creative problem solving
Each role in life calls for various helpings of resilience. This role calls for a heaping stack. When things take an unfortunate turn, you need to be able to push forward, keep your head, and solve the problem anyway. Resilience is worth building up for most aspects of life and will only help your chances of success in operations.
Being resilient brings with it the prospect of quick and effective problem solving, which will prove useful in this role and beyond.
Communication and writing
Communication is making the list again. In this role, you’ll be communicating with everyone, on all sides, constantly. Communication in operations has an instructional approach as well as being informative.
You’ll be writing in this role, also, and it’s safe to assume there’s not a time you won’t benefit from even basic written communication skills.
Solid organization and management skills
The implementation of organizing is essential to effective working. Being organized means more than a tidy desk and crisp vanilla folders. It means being able to bring the information you need to the surface quickly, being able to reach back and follow patterns, regroup a project based on previous approaches, and it means learning from your past self in a constructed and documented way.
Along with organization comes the management of people and projects.
Take charge. Stand up. Be heard. Lead; those are challenging things. If you want to be in operations, you must be able to assert your ideas and methods with confidence and be comfortable with people looking to you for answers.
Being a leader comes with serving. If you’re in a position that people rely on, serving is a natural part of that role. You serve those who follow your lead, and in return, they listen and accept guidance.
Ops has some hefty responsibilities, but don’t let that scare you away. You still have a team, a group, and not every error you make will send the company into the red. Responsibility does not mean perfection, it means knowing how to own your work and make corrections as you go.
This month as a whole has been incredible for understanding the world of startups. Now each title, as diverse and complex as they are, has more meaning than simple labels.
This brings the series to a close. Next, I’ll be posting every day. If you’re interested in more personal and introspective pieces, check back here on October 1st for day one!
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