Managers have some of the most difficult roles to play in any organization. They are expected to have a sound working knowledge of all systems within the business and be able to lead teams to be efficient and as high-performing as possible. Managers often bear the expectations of a vice president or CEO they report to while also being called to be a trusted advisor for specialized employees under them. While business management can look like a lot of different things depending on what type of industry or service is being done, there are some universal characteristics of what makes an effective manager.
An effective manager listens
Even if a manager possesses a great knowledge of how tasks should be done, and problems should be solved, the inability to listen to upper management or a team of employees can prove to be costly. Managers are often required to be creative thinkers and get results as the VP of an organization is more concerned with the bottom line than to hear the excuses as to why a deadline could not be met. While a manager may have a better working knowledge of the entirety of a system in place than the accounting team or the shipping department, it would be a mistake to run the risk of isolating an employee by making a rash decision and not making a coworker know that their perspective matters when making decisions. In these times, business moves at the speed of light, however a good manager is one who knows how to truly listen to others and make them feel they are valued parts of the organization.
An effective manager motivates
Many managers are expected to be detail-oriented in order to avoid allowing mistakes that could cost a corporation time and money, or in some cases create an unsafe working environment for employees. They are often responsible for understanding an employee's strengths and harnessing their skills for the betterment of the organization. A manager must consider a worker's productivity and potential and make sure that the chemistry created when a team is formed will bear fruit with minimal friction between workers. A good manager will know what to say to her teams in order to inspire them for greatness. Some employees need more personal encouragement, some need extrinsic incentive programs, and some simply need to be left alone. Effective managers know the people they lead and exactly how to get the best from them.
An effective manager continues to be a good learner
A time comes in one's career when they must realize their education and experience can take them only so far. Effective managers will put themselves in environments that will teach them more about what it means to be a leader. This may look like pursuing relationships with mentors and business leaders who possess the skills they themselves would like to acquire. And while this can sometimes be experienced in a non-traditional environment, the best way to achieve such exposure to new concepts and principles of business management is a program like an online MBA in management. As most know, the Master's of Business Administration has become the standard for continuing education in business. An online MBA takes the degree a step further by allowing the business professional to remain working in her organization while completing coursework from a top business school on the other side of the country. One such incredible online program is delivered by the School of Business & Leadership at Regent University. The business school's 42-credit hour online MBA with a concentration in Management is accredited by the ACBSP and features courses like Corporate & Personal Ethics, Managerial Economics, Innovation & Technological Success, Marketing, Managing People, Managing Organizations, Operations & Supply Chain Management, and Business Planning & Launch. This nationally-recognized program would be an asset for any business professional seeking a leg up in management.
The world of business continues to expand at a mind-boggling rate. Technologies and systems come and go. Effective managers, however, will continue to be needed by organizations and corporations desiring to stay viable on today's global economy.
