How to become a good manager
“Focus on a few key objectives … I only have three things to do. I have to choose the right people, allocate the right number of dollars, and transmit ideas from one division to another with the speed of light. So I’m really in the business of being the gatekeeper and the transmitter of ideas.” – Jack Welch
Interpersonal Skills: While managers aren’t exclusively dealing with people, they still must interface with them, and the better they do so, the smoother the management process.
Communications: Being able to manage is being able to communicate what you need to who needs to do it.
Motivation: The same is true for motivating people to follow your management lead.
Organization: You must be organized. Management is made up of many parts, and they cannot be handled on the fly.
Delegation: No one can manage everything themselves, and if they try, they’re going to fail. So, share responsibilities and tasks with others.
Forward Planning: A manager is a planner who looks towards the future and how to set themselves up for it today.
Strategic Thinking: Part of that planning is thinking strategically about the project, the organization and how to align them moving forward.
Problem Solving: Managers face issues daily, and they must think creatively to solve them.
Commercial Awareness: Managers are not working in a vacuum and need to have a keen sense of the business and commercial environment in which they operate.
Mentoring: In order to get things done, sometimes a manager must become a mentor, offering guidance or training where it’s needed.
You probably have noticed that many of the skills for leadership and management are the same. Not all of them, but enough to build a Venn diagram where the best leaders and managers meet in the middle.
Pro-Tip: Every leader and manager worth their salt knows that they can always work towards improving their skills. There are many leadership and management programs online and at schools, and there’s likely at least one to suit your needs and your schedule.
Take it Further: Whether you’re a leader or a manger, you’re always going to want to push your company and your team to grow. Learn how transformational leadership can do just that.
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