Executive Suites
Interview the executive suite staff before you decide
Published December 10th, 2008 by Mike Sullivan
Most businesses that use executive suites say that they select an office suite due to its convenience and its prestigious location, the value it provides, the image it offers, its flexibility (especially compared to inflexible lease terms of traditional commercial real estate), or just sheer convenience. But those reasons alone aren’t enough to select an executive suite.
It’s important to remember that you will spend a significant portion of your time in your new executive suite, and unlike traditional space, you are dependent on the staff for a lot of day-to-day tasks, like ensuring your office is clean, the internet is up, phones are functioning properly, and the receptionist is greeting your guests appropriately. So, as you tour your prospective office, pay attention to the details:
- Does a friendly receptionist greet you as you walk in the front door?
- Are the carpets reasonably debris and stain free?
- Were the offices you toured clean and freshly painted, ready for you to move in?
If the answers to all these questions are yes, then you are on your way to finding a good location. Usually, this is an indication of a well-run and disciplined staff. But, you still need to do more investigation.
The next step is to spend time “interviewing” the staff. Typically, an executive suite has 2-4 staff members, depending on the company and how busy the suite is. The Manager is the main person you will work with, and is responsible for ensuring a smoothly functioning office. She hires the rest of the staff, coordinates with vendors to “get things done”. She is the main person that you will depend on to keep things running efficiently.
Interview this person. Make sure you’re comfortable with her before you make a decision.
Typically, the Manager will have an Assistant Manager who is also responsible for day-to-day tasks, clerical work, stepping in for the manager when he or she is not available. It is important to ensure this person is competent and someone you can work with, especially if you expect to leverage support services offered by the suite, because often those tasks are given to this person.
Last, the suite will have a receptionist. In a busy suite this person will be constantly answering the phone and greeting guests. It may be difficult to spend time with her, but you can get an idea of her capabilities listening to how she manages the phone and greets any guests that enter the suite.
After interviewing and observing the staff, you may want to speak with a current client. The questions you should ask are:
- Is the staff competent and friendly? How does the staff interact with visitors?
- Is the internet service fast and reliable? Outages or slow connections should be rare. Be aware that often these complaints are not problems with the suite, but issues with the client’s computer, so take these answers with a grain of salt.
- Is the phone system reliable and easy to use?
- Are maintenance issues (leaks, backed up plumbing, wiring issues, etc.) taken care of promptly and effectively?
- Are billing issues common? Are billing issues easily resolved?
Once you’ve followed all these recommendations and you feel comfortable with responses and observations, you probably have found yourself a great executive suite!
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About the Author
Jason Tiemeier December 10th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I think its a great idea to interview staff. I know I have the best staff working for me so I would welcome that.
Rob Zeus December 11th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Everything rises and falls on leadership — and serviced offices are no exception. Think about it. Have you ever been to a poorly managed hotel? How about a poorly managed restaurant? Now put that into the context of a poorly managed executive office suite development. The difference is this: You don’t have to go back to that poorly managed hotel or restaurant. You are in with your serviced office provider, typically, for six months.
Boston Office Space December 17th, 2008 at 11:29 am
A lot of great ideas and useful information for anyone looking for a flexible office.
In addition to interviewing the staff, ask other business who work in the office how their experience has been? Also, make sure you meet with several office spaces before jumping into one without having done all your research.
-Tim