Whether you are a family, school, or business leader, effective management is beyond ensuring that all objectives are met. As a manager, you are responsible for inspiring team members to achieve the preset goals within the specified period. As such, an effective manager focuses more on engagement rather than the output. But this doesn’t mean foregoing the latter.
Unsurprisingly, many aspiring managers focus more on earning the tag than understanding what skills a good manager should possess. This is similar to expecting maximum performance with minimal efforts, which we both know rarely happens. However, this post will shed some light on what’s expected of you as a manager. We’ll also highlight the benefits of effective management, so let’s roll!
Seven Skills of Highly Effective Managers
In the coming weeks, we will have blogs discussing the seven skills that highly effective mangers exhibit. In the meantime, let’s look at what skills any manager needs.
Build Relationships
As obvious as it sounds, several organizations lack strong relationships between managers and employees. A good manager needs to build good working relationships with people at all levels. This makes communications easy while enhancing respect within the company.
Develop People
An effective manager understands that they have to grow their workforce in both skill and interpersonal relationships to improve performance. Besides, people tend to have a special liking for managers who whole-heartedly drive them to success. As a manager, you should invest in your employee’s talent by providing professional guidance, tools and learning resources, and overall coaching. This will ensure that your team remains on par with the job purpose, therefore achieving the organization’s mission.
Lead Change
A manager should have effective leadership skills. That goes without saying. For this reason, managers should be in the first line when implementing any changes suggested in the organization. That’s how you motivate your team to join in.
Inspire Others
Effective management is beyond setting up a highly productive environment. Managers need to build a great work culture that promotes development and success among individuals. In other words, a good manager should inspire employees.
Think critically
To get the best results, managers need to employ critical thinking in everything they do. They should be able to make quick decisions using the information presented to them. This also necessitates emotional intelligence. As a manager, your team members look up to you should anything unprecedented come up.
Communicate clearly
Clear communication is at the heart of any successful organization. From delegating tasks to conducting follow-ups, an effective manager ensures that not one detail slips through the cracks. As a manager, you should provide clear goals and expectations for each team member, which can only be achieved through clear communication.
Create Accountability
Managers provide clear goals and objectives for a project, so they need to take responsibility when things go south. This fosters an accountability culture that encourages employees to own their actions. In the wrong run, the team will complete projects quickly, with minimal complications.
Why Managers Are Effectual Towards Their Team
Usually, managers handle multiple things simultaneously. They have to keep a fine balance between business objectives, employees’ needs as well as their well-being. Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done. Since projects’ success and failure are viewed as a manager’s responsibility, they remain effectual to their team.
Mediating Disagreements and Solving Conflicts
Often, team members have different views and suggestions on how the team should handle a problem. And this is a problem itself. A manager needs to resolve such issues so that everyone feels valued. In such a case, one of the best approaches would be listening to each individual separately. After that, allow them to defend their arguments. The next thing would be listening and brainstorming on mutually beneficial solutions, and once they both settle on one, you can make a summary of the agreement.
Management Skills – Beneficial, Lucrative, Highly Transferable, And Useful Beyond Employer-Employee Relations
Interestingly, management skills have more than one application. They are not bound to one particular activity, which makes them useful in other areas. This ability makes them evergreen – they are never outdated. Such skills include:
- Leadership
- Accountability
- Critical thinking
- Clear communication
- Conflict management
Final Thoughts
Being a manager is more than just the title. You are responsible for not only the projects but also the people working on them. This necessitates several skills, most of which we’ve addressed above. With this, you can lead your team effectively, resolving any conflicts that come along. Please like, share or comment on this post.
