In addition to having solid technical skills, including a good understanding of the company and departmental procedures, great managers need to have good management skills. What exactly does this mean? Good management skills include excellent organizational, project management, and creative problem solving capabilities. More importantly, great managers must have superior interpersonal skills, with an excellent ability to communicate with, engage, and motivate their staff. They also use a solution focused strategy, focusing and building on the existing skills and strengths of their team; this includes knowing how to identify and apply individual talents in a way which supports the overall business strategy.
Employees also work better when they have clear goals and objectives to work towards, and it is up to the manager to not only develop these but to also remain transparent and regularly communicate these to their staff. Managers who are able to do this provide structure and guidance to their staff, which in turn helps to build a strong working relationship. A great manager also communicates respect for their workers by involving them in decision making processes and inviting feedback. They also help employees to build on their already existing strengths, including linking employees to training or by providing opportunities for staff to shadow other staff members as part of cross-training.
The end result of great management is shown not only in employee performance but also in the workplace environment. Employees who are well managed are more motivated and committed to working towards company and departmental objectives, and there is often an increased rate of staff retention. As a result, companies and human resource departments should see the recruitment and training of their managers as a priority and an important investment in their company. Human resource departments can provide substantial support to managers including providing opportunities for further skills training, such as management and communication skills training. HR departments can also help managers learn how to monitor, evaluate, and identify key skills within their team. Both human resource departments and managers can also work closely together within recruitment processes, helping to identify employees who will fit well within an already established team.
