A strong management team is crucial to the success of any business.
Managers are direct representatives of the company who influence their staff and make day to day decisions on behalf of the organisation. Managers need to possess the confidence to make strong decisions, paired with the fluidity to accept advice from their staff and seniors. So, what makes a good manager, and what should employers be looking for when hiring management staff?
Knowledge.
Management need to have the experience and knowledge to make quick, educated decisions that will contribute to the organisation successfully competing in their industry. For this reason, some of the best managers are found in-house with relative experience at various levels of the company.
In a fast and ever-changing workforce, management also need to keep up to date with relative industry knowledge and need to broaden their own skills via courses and coaches, such as a nLIVEn certified executive coach.
Leadership.
People often assume that people are either born as leaders or followers, this is far from the truth and good leadership skills can be learned. However, a manager needs to have the right relationships in place with his staff.
Managers need to be appreciative and encouraging of their staff, but also hold onto a position of authority. There’s not a problem with a manager being friends with his staff, so long as he is still able to lead them and make tough decisions not everyone might agree with.
Providers.
Good managers provide for their staff.
Whether that is providing the right resources to handle specific tasks, or organising staff to attend any relevant courses that will help them perform better at their job. Managers provide the framework and motivation to help everyone reach their potential
Communication.
Good managers know how to communicate with staff at all levels of the company.
They need to be able to communicate with their seniors, right down to a casual intern who pops in two days a week. Understanding how to communicate clearly and effectively to staff on projects updates, and changes is a key skill that management need to possess.
Decisiveness.
Whether deciding on a location for a team building event or large-scale business decisions, management need to be able to make fast, strong decisions that are logical and justifiable. A strong manager then needs to be able to stand by that decision. Indecisive action often leads to a loss of time, money and clientele.
Management also need to have the flexibility and trust to listen to their staff, and take on board any suggestions relating to the decision that needs to be made. No one enjoys a dictatorship, and although managers have the final say, encouraging staff to engage in decision making will help to build a more unified team.
Undertaking managerial positions isn’t easy. Employers need to ensure they find someone who can handle the stress, and burden that comes with the higher pay grade.
Image From: http://rockingleadership.com/2016/10/14/elements-of-strong-leadership/
