9 Key Skills Needed To Progress In a Management Position

Success in a management role depends on many different factors. If you are hoping to work your way up the higher management ladder, you will need to focus on and hone your personal and professional skills.

Here are some of the most crucial skills that a manager needs to progress through the ranks.

Organisation

As a manager, you will already be used to organising the workload of a team. If you hope to continue your progression, you should take steps to prepare yourself for the challenges of even greater levels of responsibility, which will often require greater levels of organisation.

It may help to ensure that you review your organisation practices regularly to see how and where you could improve them. Gradually increasing your organisation skills will help put you in a better position as you progress through the ranks.

Communication

Good communication and interpersonal skills can be beneficial for managers of all levels. As a manager, you will have to interact with a vast range of different people, from employees below you to managers above you, along with customers, suppliers and other third parties.

It would help to know what are the benefits of pubic speaking – and it may help to hone your communication skills by taking a course or by getting in plenty of practice. It can help to ensure you are easily contactable for your team and you should always ask for feedback during informal one-to-one meetings on how you can improve.

Delegation

Knowing how and when to delegate can be an essential skill. Once you rise to the position of manager, you will have to give up some of your former duties, as managing your team will take up a significant amount of your time.

It may help to start small with delegation, with one or two tasks. You could use it as an opportunity to find out who in the office is responsible and most able to take on additional responsibility themselves. You can then see where the strengths and weaknesses are among your employees and delegate accordingly.

Financial Literacy

Good financial skills are needed for almost any management position. Financial literacy will help you understand the reports on business-wide profitability and equip you with the skills needed to budget for your team.

If you’d like to know more, this website offers a breakdown of their managerial finance course and how it can benefit managers.

Mentorship

A good business leader should aim to elevate and develop their team members. Many managerial positions require a level of mentorship to be undertaken to identify and grow high-potential employees.

You could consider having one to one meetings with your staff, as well as less formal meetings as and when it is needed. This can help determine your team’s career goals and assist in planning for how the business could accommodate them. Remember to also give advice and feedback to employees that you think may have management potential.

Problem Solving

Problem solving is another skill you will need to develop as you progress in your management career. As a manager, it will be down to you to make decisions big and small that will impact your department. You will also need to remain calm under pressure and take into account many different factors when making a choice.

It is a good idea to avoid making snap decisions at work. You should always weigh up the pros and cons, and where necessary, consult with your team or higher management for additional insight. However, it is essential not to rely too heavily or too frequently on others.

Negotiation

Being a manager means that you may have to negotiate with your employees, candidates for roles, suppliers and other third parties. Consider all negotiations from all views before you accept or reject, and aim to find a solution that suits all parties. This can be a challenging skill to master but, as with many things, practice can make perfect.

Creativity

It may not be the skill you immediately think of when considering essential managerial skills, but creativity can be a tremendous asset to any manager. Creativity can help you think on your feet and develop innovative ways to do things and motivate your team.

The modern world is increasingly breaking away from traditional working practices. If you can bring a little creative thought to your team, it can go a long way toward fostering an environment of progress and innovation.

Trustworthiness

One of the most crucial skills in a manager is trustworthiness. The people you manage will need to know that they can turn to you if they need anything, and those above you will need to trust that you can get things done.

Trust is a skill you must earn, rather than develop, by showing those around you that you are up to the task. You should treat those around you with respect and dignity and be a manager that anyone can turn to if they need help or advice.