You have probably heard from your manager that there are no small jobs. Of course, she probably told you that right after assigning you a very small and insignificant job. There are definitely small jobs and there is definitely a such thing as busy work. Sometimes in an office, there really is nothing to do. The phones aren't ringing, no one is buying, and the break room is squeaky clean. You are still getting paid for your time and employers don't like to pay people for doing nothing. So they either assign you busy work or expect you to invent some.
Then, there are the jobs that are so small, you forget to assign them to anyone. The problem is that such tasks become big problems when no one has that particular responsibility. In an office, every desk has a garbage can. Every office has a break room. When you are just getting started, it is nobody's job to empty the cans. You figure it will get done by someone eventually, if you think about it at all. It doesn't take long to discover that the break room never cleans itself. Small jobs have to be assigned, if not to employees, then to contractors. Here are a few more small jobs someone has to do when it is time for you to grow your business:
Technical Writing
What is technical writing? Essentially, it is any piece of writing for the purpose of detailing technical specifications about a product or service. The goal is not just to reveal the details, but to explain and clarify to make that product or device more accessible. If you have a product that is non intuitive to use, there is a good chance you might need the services of a technical writer.
While a technical writer does not have to be an expert in the thing about which they are writing, it helps. You wouldn't contract a poet or a songwriter to write the instruction manual for your smartwatch that also doubles as a Geiger counter. It would help to have someone versed in the jargon of radiation and wearable computers. You don't want to have to train someone from scratch. That said, a good researcher who can work off of good notes and a bit of guidance can do the job. If there is no one in your company with the skills to do this type of writing, bring in a contractor that can. Your product will have limited success if you don't.
Ops
If you want to increase the operational success of your business, you are going to need someone running ops. To better understand the job, think of what Tim Cook did at Apple before he became CEO. Other people conceived of the iPod. But he was the one who had to figure out how they would make and ship the iPod.
Your ops person is the one who knows how to bring products to market. He knows how to source parts, labor, and logistics. Without the ops manager, you don't have products on shelves for the public to buy. He is a little like the showrunner of your favorite show. That production has writers, actors, directors, producers, and people who keep the coffee and doughnuts supplied. But without a showrunner, all those disparate parts are meaningless. The difference in a successful company and a failing one is often not the quality of the ideas, but the quality of the person who brings them to market. That's ops.
Custodial
It is not just a matter of keeping the trash cans emptied and the dishes washed. There is also the matter of dusting, sweeping and mopping the floors, and sanitizing all surfaces. These days, cleaning is more important than ever. Do you know what chemicals are safe for use on floors, desks, telephones? Do you have those cleaning supplies? Are you in compliance with OSHA regulations? At some point, you will grow to the point when cleaning and sanitation become big challenges. Contract professionals who have their own equipment and expertise.
There are definitely small and overlooked jobs in a growing company. But that doesn't mean they aren't important. Be sure you don't overlook technical writing, operations, and custodial work.
