The "Go To" person in the office

[susan silva]

Do people come to you and ask you general office type questions? (not counting bosses and those you report to)  If so, when was the last time someone called or came up to you and asked for your help, and what was it about?  (a contact name? a software issue?  maintenance issue?  hopefully not how to unjam the copier, but could have been...)  Finally, if you are "the go to person" how often do you people interrupt you to ask for help?

[gee4]

Yes, that's me, and ALL the time.

Having just relocated in the past month with my team to our new office, I was inundated the first week with some requests that my boss obviously has on his TO DO list for addressing at a later stage.

However on a daily basis I get asked for all sorts of things, including those you mentioned... contact names and phone numbers, assistance with software issues on Excel and Powerpoint, as well as other queries about printing documents in colour or A3 or saving them in pdf format etc.

I only ask for help if I need it.  For example, I am co-ordinating a meeting for my boss next week which includes some very senior people within the UK.  I have had to do some research on these individuals and ascertain who they are, job titles, PAs etc.  These kind of VIP visits tend to involve senior management so the secretaries at that level work closely together to achieve what is required to make it happen.

I never ask for help on MS Office...well I'm the Master Expert after all! 

[Cathy S]

I always have been the 'go-to' person in the office ... thought I would escape in this new job BUT NO! As the Newbie I apparently am still the 'Go-to' for all sorts of things that are nothing to do with my role ... 'just this week ...

• 'Who do I phone about X?';
• 'How do I get that software?';
• 'Where is Y body?'; and
• 'How do I stop my (business) mobile doing that?'

 

I am trying very hard to only find out about the systems I need for my job ... 

[JessW]

  I am now being introduced to the newbies as the person who knows everthing, can find anything and can fix anything (including photocopiers, billing, tax issues, restaurant guides, cover for missing support staff etc).

Just a shame I cannot fix my salary so I can get either double or just my basic with a percentage of all the invoices I have to 'do' for the rest of the group!

  Jess (and they wonder why my hands are bandaged up because of RSI!)

[izzy53]

Me too.  I've been with the business longer than most people here and have worked in several locations and several roles so have knowledge/information I'm happy to share:). Today has been a quiet day - I've only been approached for:

1.  A needle and thread
2.  How to set up personal mail folders in Outlook
3.  Who should I contact in XYZ Company?

[rose.winter1980]

I'm not the "go to person" for day-to-day office matters such as software/hardware problems, stationery, maintenance or anything like that, except for the very occasional request for needle and thread.

My reputation in my company is that of a down-to-earth, practical person.  People at all levels in my company tend to come to me with problems of all sorts, both to do with the business and personal difficulties.  I don't solicit these confidences; people just arrive in my office to "run something by (me)" or "can I talk to you" type of conversation.  Sometimes it can be a bit of a burden if the matter is a serious one, but it is very kind of people to trust me.