Every job comes with its own set of requirements and demands which keeps changing as you climb the corporate ladder. Unfortunately, mere knowledge and a thorough understanding of the nature of your work are not enough for a managerial role. You need to be more than that. Instead of doing the work yourself, you are responsible for getting it done by your subordinates. While handling the team, you also need to be in constant touch with the needs and wants of the management. The majority of your time is spent on communicating the business requirements to your subordinates and sharing employee concerns to the management. Doing justice to these additional responsibilities is not an easy job. You need some skills to be able to lead a team of individuals, get things done and prove your worth to the management.
Here are a few skills that every manager must possess:
- Influencer:
We are influenced by those who lead by example. That’s true in the case of managing a team also. If you want your team members to go an extra mile to achieve great results, the best way is to show them how it is done. However, your job doesn’t stop here. To become a good manager, you need to share the vision for the future with your team members and constantly motivate them to work towards achieving it. If the team understands the vision completely and feel they are making a difference, they will happily work in the direction of making it a reality. - Communication:
Having good communication skills is paramount for becoming a successful manager. When you are working in an organization, your work is heavily depended on how quickly and effectively you communicate with your team and the management. Clear communication removes doubt or scope for any misunderstanding to happen in the workplace. A good communicator makes it absolutely clear to the team members what is expected of them. S/he is also excellent at presenting the employee side of the story to the management. Most importantly, good communication skills are very important for conflict management within team members as it can lead to resolving issues quickly. - Integrity:
When you become a manager, it means you have been successful in winning the trust of your bosses. However, what’s important is to maintain this trust more than ever after taking over your managerial position. That’s because a lot of sensitive information might be shared with you and handling such information with care is critical. At the same time, treating all your team members the same is vital for smooth functioning of your department. When the team sees you playing fair, they will focus on their work rather than complain about how they are treated unfairly. - Delegation:
Apart from the usual tasks, the majority of a manager’s time is spent on maintaining reports on work output, new initiatives taken by the team, etc., as well as sharing these reports with the higher management in a timely manner. Neither is it possible nor it is expected of you to do everything on your own. Therefore, you must plan your time and resources strategically. Hence, delegating work intelligently to your subordinates will not only improve your own productivity but will also help your team members develop important skills required to advance their own careers.
Everybody wants to climb up the corporate ladder. Setting your eyes on the managerial position is a good way to ensure that your career develops. However, that’s not enough. If you are aiming for a higher position, you must possess the necessary skills, especially the ones mentioned above to prove that you are management material.
About Megha Raizada:
Megha Raizada is a professional writer working with the premium job portal Naukrigulf.com. She has a keen interest in the global job market, but also loves to keep a track of everything interesting happening around the globe. When not writing or browsing the Internet, you will find her creating furniture out of used tires. You can reach her at Twitter and Google+.
