– by Ainsley Lawrence
Ainsley Lawrence is a freelance writer with an interest in the way business, technology, and education intersect with the personal. She loves traveling to beautiful places and is frequently lost in a good book.
There is more to being a manager than simply being a boss. A management role gives you the opportunity to support your team, help them to grow and evolve as employees, and plan and execute strategies for long-term company success. Working in a management role is a unique way to bring value to your company.
So how can you determine whether or not a management role would be a good fit for you? Let’s take a look at some of the qualities to look for in a good manager.
Communication Skills
The best leaders are excellent at all forms of communication: verbal, written, and listening. As a manager, you are typically the line of communication between the senior management and the frontline staff. An important way to become a good leader is to master the art of communicating with everyone from the head of a department to a CEO to an entry-level employee in every way from a phone call to an email to a presentation in a meeting.
You also want to establish a sense of trust with your team so that they feel comfortable communicating with you honestly about the status of projects and other business matters that arise. It’s important that your employees not only feel comfortable communicating with you but that you also make yourself accessible and available to your team.
The Ability to Motivate and Encourage Others
An effective leader knows how to get the best out of their team. They will remember to thank them for completing tasks and give them positive feedback when it is warranted, and they will be constructive and helpful when offering feedback on ways to improve. By listening to their opinions, talking to them about something other than work, and introducing them to opportunities, a manager will be able to increase employee commitment.
You may also want to implement tools like refresher courses/training sessions or performance reviews. With the former, it may spark some new concepts and introduce new ways to solve problems your team may come across. With the latter, they can inspire drive and passion in the workforce and shift from competition to collaboration.
Quick Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills
Every manager needs to be able to think on their feet and make decisions quickly, often under pressure and deadlines. In order to succeed in this role, you need to be someone who remains calm in the chaos. While being a manager can be rewarding, it can also be stressful, and you need to make sure you can practice adequate self-care. If you are someone who frequently struggles with mental health issues, and you are considering a management role, make sure you fully consider how the position will affect your mental health and be sure to create a plan to take care of yourself.
Commercial Awareness
A good manager has a comprehensive understanding of the industry and marketplace in which their company operates. In order to achieve this, it’s important to stay up-to-date with industry news and updates, read relevant blogs and websites, listen to industry-related podcasts, and follow influencers in the space. A good manager should also have a strong knowledge of economic and political issues affecting the industry — especially in careers that care for people — be able to identify competitors of the company, and have a strong understanding of the company’s mission and goals.
Management Roles Aren’t for Everyone
Management roles can often involve conflict between employees, department heads, senior management and other departments, etc. If you are someone who doesn’t handle conflict well, you may not thrive in a management role.
Management roles can also be chaotic, stressful, and present unforeseen obstacles. If you are not good at improvising or dealing with unplanned difficulties, this may not be the role for you.
There are also other difficulties managers have to deal with like facing under-performing employees, having to give negative feedback, and constantly implementing strategies for improvement.
When you are considering whether or not a management role is for you, it’s important that you think through all of the aspects of being a manager. Do you have the qualities associated with a good manager? Do the duties of a manager excite you? How might a management role fit into your long-term aspirations in terms of your overall career?
These are some of the questions you’ll want to ask yourself when thinking through the possibility of pursuing a management role. This isn’t something you want to rush into but rather something you should take your time to consider thoroughly.
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