New Manager Skills

Being a manager can be overwhelming as you suddenly find yourself with responsibilities such, as overseeing employees and managing inventory and cash flow. To excel in this role it is important to focus on developing management skills.

Here are four key skills that you should prioritise;

Setting Boundaries and Effective Communication;

Communication is essential for management. Continuously improve your communication skills by adapting them to your companys culture and the preferences of your team members. Recognise the different communication channels available, such as face to face conversations, virtual meetings, email, collaboration platforms or project management software. Strive for a balance that ensures everyone has an opportunity to express themselves while respecting boundaries. Consider how you will handle situations like employees using your phone for non urgent matters or those who prefer more private forms of communication.

Purposeful Decision Making Based on Evidence;

Being a manager involves making decisions on a basis ranging from changes in customer service to mundane choices like selecting office supplies. Effective decision makers possess skills, like creativity, leadership, collaboration and analytical thinking which enable them to make logical choices. Start by focusing on gathering facts and identifying biases.

To effectively address the core issues it is important to define the problem determine when action should be taken, explore solutions assess resource and labour costs and consider the impact, on stakeholders.

Leadership;

As a manager one key aspect of your role is developing your team members. Coaching and mentorship skills may not have been explicitly mentioned in your job description initially. They are crucial for leadership. Leadership involves establishing trust motivating through influence and guiding individuals to enhance their skills. By investing in coaching and mentoring programs you empower your employees to acquire skills and improve existing ones. This ultimately makes managing your responsibilities as a manager.

Efficiently managing people, projects and time is an ongoing learning process. Disorganisation and ineffective employee management can result in wastage of resources and hinder productivity. To enhance your management skills in these areas;

Task and Project Delegation;

As a manager it’s important to prioritise the skill of delegation. Avoid the urge to handle everything on your own as delegating tasks can help you achieve your management goals and demonstrate your value. Take the time to carefully evaluate your responsibilities considering the time required for each task. How it contributes to the project. Delegate tasks based on their alignment, with project objectives. The skills possessed by your team members. By focusing on these five management skills you’ll set yourself up for success as a manager and effectively navigate the challenges and responsibilities that come with this role.

Consider using task management tools along with project and time management techniques. Document successful strategies that have worked well for you or others. Set goals for improvement in these areas. Emphasise making decisions based on facts than getting caught up in office politics.

How to Develop the Key Management Skills?

Whether you’re stepping into a position for the time looking to improve your managerial abilities or investing in your teams development this guide offers valuable insights into refining your management skills. Lets explore techniques for managers and different approaches, to fostering growth in these areas.

Understanding Management Skills;

In essence management skills encompass competencies that empower managers to lead motivate organise, schedule, plan budgets and effectively solve problems. Whether it involves aligning team objectives with goals or advocating for hires managers rely on a fundamental set of skills to accomplish their tasks. It’s important to note that these skills go beyond managing people and can be applied to a range of careers and industries making them valuable assets, for professionals.

There are generally three categories of management skills;

1. Technical Skills; These are the skills needed to achieve objectives. They include proficiency in tools, software, techniques and strategies required for completing projects and achieving goals.
2. Conceptual Skills; These skills involve thinking on a scale allowing managers to understand their tasks and create action plans. Conceptual skills are crucial for developing ideas and solving problems within their departments.
3. People Management Skills; Since people play a role in driving goal oriented actions managers need interpersonal skills to motivate, lead and collaborate effectively with others.

To maximise value delivery managerial skills can be divided into four groups;

• Personal Skills; This includes skills related to learning and personal growth teamwork building trust among team members and being adaptable in situations.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making Skills; These encompass financial planning abilities, business acumen, customer focus in decision making processes.
• Team Management and Professional Development Skills; This category covers abilities like influencing others motivating team members effectively through communication techniques such, as active listening or providing constructive feedback when necessary.
• Skills for Organisation; Strategic thinking, time management, sensemaking and the ability to recognise patterns and trends.
• Effective Communication and Leadership Skills; Motivating, updating and collaborating with teams in a manner. In addition to these skills it’s crucial to stay updated with evolving trends and acquire skill sets. These include proficiency in technology agile management techniques, data driven decision making capabilities and purpose driven leadership qualities.

Essential Management Skills;

To be a manager, its important to develop a range of skills that can be grouped into these 12 essential functions of management;

• Coordination; Fostering independent teams of collaborative work.
• Providing Guidance; Clearly directing team members through delegation quality control measures and effective timeline management.
• Leadership; Developing leadership abilities to inspire and motivate teams while setting the tone. Seeking feedback from others efforts strategically.
• Organisational Skills; Building capabilities to efficiently oversee multiple projects with varying timelines and deadlines.
• Planning; Creating defined plans that align with objectives at both the individual levels while understanding how different elements contribute towards those goals.
• Effective Communication; Mastering the art of expressing thoughts when conveying ideas providing feedback outlining strategies to ensure employees understand expectations in alignment, with objectives.
• Taking Responsibility; Embracing the responsibility, for our work and contributions to the team fostering trust and integrity among our colleagues.
• Coaching; Supporting the growth and development of our team by sharing knowledge and boosting confidence in both interpersonal skills.
• Time Management; Effectively managing our time and energy especially when combined with skills such as giving directions and taking ownership leading to increased productivity.
• Collaboration; Encouraging teamwork and collaboration within the organisation creating an environment that facilitates work and actively participating in efforts.
• Active Listening; Becoming a listener to improve our communication skills and empathise with others ensuring engagement and empathy in all interactions.

Developing Your Management Skills for Future Leadership;

While there are ways to enhance your abilities active participation is crucial. Whether its enrolling in speaking courses or volunteering to lead initiatives being proactive is the first step, towards improving these important skills. Here are some ideas to start your journey;

Reflect; Before taking any steps take a moment to reflect on your situation. Discuss your thoughts with friends or family members. Write them down privately.Reflect on your accomplishments, goals and the obstacles you anticipate in becoming a more effective manager and leader.

Seeking feedback is crucial once you’ve identified your objectives. Consult with your manager to gain insights, into the areas where you can improve and leverage your existing strengths. Your manager can help you create an action plan and suggest management training programs if they are available within your organisation.

Don’t hesitate to take on leadership roles whenever an opportunity arises for you to make an impact. Demonstrating initiative and being willing to share your ideas is often valued. Leading a project can be a way to showcase your dedication to skill enhancement. Consider exploring peer, to peer coaching within your team after discussing it with your manager. When done effectively this practice can foster skills and sharpen technical abilities. You’ll have the opportunity to assist co-workers in exploring areas while developing your coaching skills.

Always make sure to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of your team members. Recognising their contributions and hard work is a way to nurture your competencies. During meetings actively participate by maintaining a presence listening attentively and asking questions when appropriate.

It’s important to stay engaged and focused during meetings especially when you have a schedule, with sessions. To enhance your skills look for leaders, managers and mentors who inspire and motivate you. Study their strengths. Observe how they communicate, share ideas, give feedback and handle objections. These insights can be valuable for your skill development.

In a changing and work environment it’s crucial to have a diverse set of skills. While its beneficial to develop skills it’s also important to focus on mastering a fundamental ones that can provide a strong foundation for future growth. If you’re looking for guidance, on leadership skill development consider seeking leadership coaching from our team. We can help you inspire and influence your team effectively.