Most important skill/ability/task?

[susans]

What ONE skill, ability, or task is most important in your job?

[rondort]

Accountability on what I do is accurate, on time, and if there is a problem I own up to it and  correct it.  I work on my own much of the time and do not have someone to double check my work.

[ozbound]

Good people skills, especially on the telephone - being able to work with customers and sales people and developing a good rapport is key!

[itsme_calista]

I'm really stuck picking just one ... if I had to break it down then I guess Organisation Skills - because some days it's like trying to knit spaghetti round here!  Equally, I'd say being able to remain clam and rational for the same reason, I need to keep a level head on my shoulders when others around me are panicking!

[gee4]

....important to me or the company?

- to me, I would have to say being of assistance to others, colleagues appreciate my help with something they     cannot do themselves
- to the company, communication

[raindance]

The most important skill in my job is organization.  

[queenbean]

I love the knitting spaghetti comment - I can so relate!  I guess I'd have to go for top notch organisation skills (or maybe it should be spinning plates) - being able to keep what feels like hundreds of different things going at once, whether it's planned work or out of the blue emergencies, while appearing totally calm and under control.  Classic duck syndrome.

[laurafmcdermott]

Tossup between organization and stability.  Keeping things straight and keeping a cool head when they go off course go hand-in-hand.

[Atlanta Z3]

Flexibility is the key for me.  Supporting more than one director, I have to be able to switch gears quickly.

[spitfire78]

Attention to detail - without a doubt.  Obviously, there are a lot of different skills that I use constantly in my job.  But attention to detail is THE most important of all.  I deal with a lot of different accounts and a lot of different budgets.  One slip of the finger can make a huge difference!

[diamondlady]

I'd have to agree with Spitfire on this one.  I did that just today too, matching vouchers with invoices, and if you aren't careful with paykey numbers it can really mess up the filing system.  We fixed the mistakes that went back to several weeks. WOW!  One invoice that wasn't found lead to several other mis placed invoices.  YIKES!  Some were my fault, some were not, but it's very easy to do.  Fortunatley it wasn't an Auditor looking for them or our customer, or the bank doing an audit looking.  YIKES!

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

[JessW]

I would have to say 'professionalism', as far too often I see young secretaries, admins etc who just don't know what the work means in practical terms (re their job v their unique individuality).

[geminigirl]

Lord, where to start ...

Given the week I've just been through, I'd have to say Organisational Skills AND Professionalism.  Oh, and multi-tasking (& I'd like to shoot the person who invented THAT one )

And don't you all just wish other people would own responsibilities?  How often do you find a job doesn't get done until you pick it up because of "Oh, it's not (in)my job (description)."  I could happily have throttled two of my colleagues this week ...

Oh, Gem, get off that Rant Box again (I've been on & off it all darn' day)

[suis]

Efficiency, I have alot to do and I hve to make sure I get many taskes done on time or it would affect others.   That with accuracy, but I do make mistakes!

[peaches2160]

It's a toss up.

Attn. to Detail
Good Listening Skills
Communication skills