In some companies, the number of managers and team leads seems unreasonably large. Why is the role of an effective manager becoming more popular today, and what qualities will help an ordinary employee to quickly turn into a competent manager? It depends on the scope of the company, its growth and the specifics of the market, but in general, a good manager can be “recognized” by his personal and professional characteristics long before the need to “close” a vacancy.
Effective management requires a set of important qualities: organizational, analytical, administrative. Often an important role for a manager is played by his personal human qualities and charm. Is it enough to have a command voice and be able to clearly set tasks? Obviously not. To be called an ideal manager, you need to have many skills and talents, especially since every day the requirements and expectations of the position or profession grow.
Each manager in the structure of the company has its own functions, requirements and responsibilities.
- A product manager is usually responsible for the global product strategy, development plan, setting priorities and release of the final product, taking care of how to create the perfect product roadmap .
- The project manager is responsible for resources, product updates, delivery, budgets, team collaboration, development methodology choices, and so on.
- The client manager manages the development of communities and the provision of timely feedback and any communication with the client.
- Personnel manager is important to attract qualified talents, etc.
However, all the general must-have quality is considered the ability to correctly manage.
How to determine a good manager from a dozen applicants? If you dive into the details, you can select 30, 40 or even 50 important qualities. In the abbreviated list, we have identified the 10 most basic. Perhaps some of them will forever remain and be forgotten in 2018 and will no longer play a crucial role, but I think most of the qualities of a successful leader will be relevant in half a century.
10 qualities of an effective manager
Leadership
A leader is a person who can make others do what they don’t like, and at the same time pretend that they like to do it.
Harry truman
Leadership is one of the most important and natural qualities for any manager. Its presence implies the ability to clearly organize, direct and lead a team to success and effectiveness. A good leader always knows when, how and how to motivate his colleagues.
What to read: “
The Winner, ” Jack Welch, Susie Welch
Team play
Here is the most banal, but effective comparison with sports. Any team consists of people who strive to achieve their personal goals, as well as team goals. If everyone will be on his own. the result will not work. It is important to always feel support and focus on the overall result. Even a
15-minute daily meeting in an Agile team can be an excellent opportunity to rally people and “smooth out” interpersonal “irregularities”.
A good manager should always be part of a team in order to find its strengths and prevent weak points in time.
What to read: “
Full engagement ”, Brian Tracy
Strategic thinking and results orientation
The results-oriented manager is constantly motivated and shows the team the right path to development.
This requires strong character, competitiveness and healthy ambitions. Result-oriented managers always strive to exceed well-known standards and become better.
What to read: “
10 commandments that a business leader must break, ” Donald R. Q.
Purposefulness and perseverance
Sometimes, in order to achieve a team goal, it is necessary to “pierce” the strongest walls. An effective manager always needs to be confident in his strength and support of the team. In management, it is very important to competently express one's opinion when necessary in order to be able to influence others.
Product and project managers know how important it is to be able to successfully negotiate, enter into transactions and reach complex agreements.
What to read: “
Start small, ” Owen Service, Rory Gallagher
Delegation
Being a manager does not mean doing everything on your own, even including serious top-level questions. In management, it is important to be able to delegate so that colleagues are able to perform equivalent work and, if necessary, replace the manager. It should competently and gradually expand the capabilities of employees, first delegating simple tasks to them, gradually moving to more complex ones.
Providing your team members with additional responsibilities will make them feel more motivated and independent in making decisions.
What to read: “
50 lessons on napkins ”, Sergey Potapov
Effective communication
Divide and conquer is a wise rule, but “unite and direct” is even better.
Johann Wolfgang Goethe
In managing any team, it is important to always keep the door open. Let your colleagues know that if they have any problems, you are ready to listen to them. Open communication will help you and your team to quickly solve problems and pressing issues.
What to read: "
Turn on the charm by the method of special services, " Jack Schafer and Marvin Carlins
Ability to win the trust of the team
Experienced managers constantly have to ask themselves: does my team trust me?
Any employee wants his leader to keep promises and keep up to date, promptly notify in case of changes in plans and directions.
Earning trust, you will receive respect, which is considered fundamental in any management.
What to read: “Trusted
Counselor,” David Meister, Robert Galford, Charles Green
Transparency
Often, decisions can be difficult, especially during major updates or critical changes within a company or product, so managers must inform their team in a timely manner, rather than hiding the current state of affairs, whatever it may be.
An open position and honesty increases the level of trust and leadership status in the eyes of the team. Of course, no business can do without confidential questions, but what is not such should be delivered to all team members on time.
What to read: “The
Perfect Leader ”, Itzhak Adizes
Riskiness
Achieving goals is not always easy. Of course, following the proven and simple ways, you can perform tasks and get the coveted result.
However, risk and experimentation should sometimes be encouraged. Security and accepted rules of the game, of course, will ensure success. But often you have to take risks and act in violation of the rules. Possible mistakes and offenses are also a school necessary for good management skills.
What to read: "
Fooled by randomness. On the hidden role of chance in business and in life, " Nassim Nicholas Taleb
The ability to relax in time
Experienced managers appreciate the importance of leisure, because without a good rest it is often difficult to build productive work. Routine and endless employment is no reason not to rest. Often in the area of responsibility of a manager is the organization or initiation of team buildings, informal events, rallies and team building activities that solve controversial issues. All this helps to get more feedback and adjust management processes.
What to read: “
The Soul of the Organization, ” Richard Gelager
Trying on the
role of the ideal manager will only work with time. There are hardly many talents who come to large companies or start-ups and immediately become brilliant managers. Many suffer fiasco at the start, someone lacks excitement and interest after several years of active work. In management, development is important, so every young manager should constantly return to the above-listed qualities and in every way encourage their development.
And how are things going with your management skills?