Management skills can encompass a wide variety of factors including communication, delegation, non-verbal skills, emotional intelligence, decision making, training, transparency, strategic thinking, appreciation, and more. However, there are a few key skills that are essential for those wanting to be successful managers. Below are some of those top skills…
Motivation
Leading your team means bringing out the best in your employees and motivating them to be more productive all while improving employee satisfaction. As a manager, you want to set clear and achievable goals for your employees to meet and push them to bring their best work to the table. It’s equally important to cheer on their achievements and celebrate their successes when they do hit their goals. Additionally, you want to empower your team to take ownership of their work and encourage them to make productive changes.
Problem Solving
Some conflict is inevitable at work and getting to the root of the problem quickly and efficiently is an important skill for managers to develop. Whether it is anticipating potential issues before they arise and could potentially affect the company, or helping your team to overcome problematic situations, problem-solving skills are something all managers need to learn. There are four steps that will help you take the right approach to problem-solving. Those steps are:
- Identifying the problem
- Analyzing the problem
- Developing a solution
- Putting the solution into action
Professionalism
Being a manager means holding yourself to a higher standard and setting an example of what your team should strive for. Demonstrating a good work ethic, integrity, honesty, and professionalism will set the right example for your employees. Some practical ways you can demonstrate this, as outlined in an article on Fast Company are, “providing exceptional customer service with a professional attitude, identifying diplomatic solutions to workplace issues, exhibiting strong moral values, showing initiative, and attending professional development seminars.”
Communication
Communication skills, both verbal and written, contribute significantly to internal efforts with your employees. As a manager, you’ll also be the bridge between your team and upper management or various departments at your company. Some of the ways you can demonstrate effective communication, as also outlined in the same article on Fast Company are, “drafting clear and concise training materials, maintaining open lines of communication with co-workers, negotiating successfully to resolve employee disputes, encouraging communication among reticent employees, and leading efficient meetings that are both productive and sensitive to time constraints.”