What are those key qualities that separate a successful manager from a mediocre one? There are many people out there that are experts in their field and often the smartest in their peer group, yet they aren’t guaranteed to be great leaders. If you’re trying to improve your manager skill set, you’re going to need the tools to face a wide range of challenges and a variety of situations successfully.
Strategic Plans
try not to be too near sighted. It’s not enough to merely throw yourself into a set of routine tasks. You need to think about the bigger picture. Set your priorities so that they are aligned with a larger, strategic goal. Try not to micro manage and support members of staff that are ready to take responsibility and manage their own workload and daily tasks.
Awareness And Intelligence
Job related intelligence alone isn’t enough if you aim to effectively manage a team. You need to bring emotional intelligence and awareness to the table if you want to successfully lead a team of employees.
Managers’ personalities and moods tend be contagious: If you bring a bad mood or a manic atmosphere into the office, it’ll most definitely rub off on your team. You need to be socially aware and have bags of enthusiasm and optimism.
Critical And Independent Thinking
Never blindly follow conventional wisdom. You need to apply some critical thinking and throw away your own assumptions. Never generalise, and don’t be quick to make assumptions or jump to conclusions. Successful managers always ask questions and are never afraid of appearing foolish.
When it comes to recruitment, take your time and consider how the person will fit into the existing team. Executive recruitments especially, need to be handled with care and consideration to the company’s direction and strategy.
Communication Skills
If you can’t communicate effectively, you’re not actually managing, you’re hindering progress. Always give useful feedback and don’t be too quick to criticise a job before it’s completed.
Motivation
Motivation isn’t just a group pep talk every month. It’s also not just a case of making sure everyone is paid properly. Good management skills centre on being a motivational leader
Avoid Micro Management
Are you amongst the millions of managers out there who are routinely trying to fix the work of their team? Constantly getting involved in your team’s work isn’t just irritating, it’s actually a massive detriment to getting projects finished. Your staff will become over reliant on your input and will end up seeking constant validation. You won’t be able to delegate the tiniest of tasks without constant guidance and input.
Instead of trying to fix your staff’s problems, debrief them properly after a project and coach them on the areas they need to improve on. If you’re seen as a positive leader and a role model, you’ll get a lot of respect, and you’ll grow a motivated and capable workforce.
Enjoy Your Work
Being a successful manager is a difficult and frustrating undertaking at times, but with careful consideration and a clear plan, you’ll be rewarded with a diligent and capable team.
By Harry Price
Harry Price is an experienced guest blogger and competitive poker player. He enjoys skiing and hiking in Switzerland with his family.
YouTube: Management for a competitive Edge: Characteristics of Successful Managers Today – Open2Study
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Motivating Mood
