How to be successful in a Head Office role
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You’ve been wondering if you should engineer a career move to Head Office to further your career and now that opportunity has arrived. Make the most of this move by thinking through the opportunities it may afford you and how you will step up to this new challenge.
Office etiquette is usually unwritten and important so make sure you know what’s required at HO. You could ask HR or a colleague already working there so you don’t trip yourself up on day one. It could be that the dress code is more formal as more client meetings may be held there, or that your mobile phone is always set on silent so colleagues working in open plan offices aren’t disturbed, or that meeting rooms are formally booked and vacated on time.
What opportunities might work at HO open up to you? Head Office is where business strategy is developed and honed. Many organisations offer those with initiative the opportunity to work in or alongside business strategists in Finance, HR, Operations, Marketing and so on, gaining a fuller perspective of how the business is placed in its market, what key competitors are doing and how your own organisation is planning to stay ahead of the pack or reach that No.1 spot. In return, you might offer a useful perspective on how new initiatives might land locally and impact local customers and staff.
What other opportunities can you prepare yourself for? Are there project groups you might join and contribute to on behalf of your new team? This will raise your profile and allow you to see how projects are developed and impact the business as a whole not just how they land locally. Perhaps there are key committees you might attend as an observer giving you a greater insight into the politics of the organisation, where organisational power lies and how it is used.
At Head Office, it can be easier to see how the whole organisation works. There’ll be teams at Head Office you can liaise with first-hand like Internal Communications, Human Factors, Public Relations, Investors and so on which are likely to be less in evidence locally. You’ll be able to see, more easily, how all these parts of the business knit together and the role each plays in moving the business forward.
Does your organisation have global reach? Again, Head Office (even a regional Head Office) will offer you that global perspective; what products and services work in each of the global regions your company serves, what new region(s) is the organisation planning to expand into and how. This may also bring you further career development opportunities.
Finally, whilst a local environment will give you great operational experience a Head Office environment is likely to open up more opportunities for professional specialisation. This is particularly true if you are on a central function career path like HR, Finance or Marketing where local requirements may be more about implementation than policy making or strategy setting.
What skills will you need?
TAKE AWAY
Working in a Head Office environment can move your career on to a different plane. It will enable you to contrast your local experience with that of Head Office strategists and planning functions, open new opportunities to develop your skills, develop your internal networks, and see how the business operates as a whole. Make the most of your time there to broaden your career horizons. Good luck!
Office etiquette is usually unwritten and important so make sure you know what’s required at HO. You could ask HR or a colleague already working there so you don’t trip yourself up on day one. It could be that the dress code is more formal as more client meetings may be held there, or that your mobile phone is always set on silent so colleagues working in open plan offices aren’t disturbed, or that meeting rooms are formally booked and vacated on time.
What opportunities might work at HO open up to you? Head Office is where business strategy is developed and honed. Many organisations offer those with initiative the opportunity to work in or alongside business strategists in Finance, HR, Operations, Marketing and so on, gaining a fuller perspective of how the business is placed in its market, what key competitors are doing and how your own organisation is planning to stay ahead of the pack or reach that No.1 spot. In return, you might offer a useful perspective on how new initiatives might land locally and impact local customers and staff.
What other opportunities can you prepare yourself for? Are there project groups you might join and contribute to on behalf of your new team? This will raise your profile and allow you to see how projects are developed and impact the business as a whole not just how they land locally. Perhaps there are key committees you might attend as an observer giving you a greater insight into the politics of the organisation, where organisational power lies and how it is used.
At Head Office, it can be easier to see how the whole organisation works. There’ll be teams at Head Office you can liaise with first-hand like Internal Communications, Human Factors, Public Relations, Investors and so on which are likely to be less in evidence locally. You’ll be able to see, more easily, how all these parts of the business knit together and the role each plays in moving the business forward.
Does your organisation have global reach? Again, Head Office (even a regional Head Office) will offer you that global perspective; what products and services work in each of the global regions your company serves, what new region(s) is the organisation planning to expand into and how. This may also bring you further career development opportunities.
Finally, whilst a local environment will give you great operational experience a Head Office environment is likely to open up more opportunities for professional specialisation. This is particularly true if you are on a central function career path like HR, Finance or Marketing where local requirements may be more about implementation than policy making or strategy setting.
What skills will you need?
- Curiosity! Be interested in everyone and everything so you are alert to potential opportunities
- Know your strengths and how these benefit teams you work with – then find opportunities to tell people what you love doing and why. If you can weave in a quick story that demonstrates your achievements and makes you memorable, even better! Look for mentors – to help you navigate your way, to support your ambitions and, in turn, be rewarding to mentor. Remember to say thank you and let people know how you put to use what you’ve learnt
- Support others – look for opportunities to return favours received, to share information you’ve discovered, or opportunities that would suit other people and develop their careers
- Work smart – deliver on your promises, make good use of time (yours and others), share your insights and knowledge, use resources wisely, and spend the organisation’s money as if it were your own!
TAKE AWAY
Working in a Head Office environment can move your career on to a different plane. It will enable you to contrast your local experience with that of Head Office strategists and planning functions, open new opportunities to develop your skills, develop your internal networks, and see how the business operates as a whole. Make the most of your time there to broaden your career horizons. Good luck!