The list below outlines management skills (not taught in business school) that can help both your professional and private life
1. Have great people skills
People skills as defined by the business dictionary are “a set of skills enabling a person to get along with others, to communicate ideas effectively to achieve personal or business goals”. Most of our events around in life are centered on interacting with people. Effective leaders who get things done possess such abilities, they interact with different kinds of subordinates, from lazy ones to hardworking ones and even their least favorite person but they have mastered how to manage people for more effective results. This is a great ability to own in life as it creates a more pleasant environment not just for you but the people around you.
2. Increase your Emotional Quotient
EQ, also known as emotional intelligence. Being in a leadership position, people often look up to you in the midst of crisis. Being able to empathize with others is what true leaders are made of. Emotional intelligence is being able to take others feeling into consideration yet still making rational decisions that benefits all parties involved. One such leader is Nelson Mandela. A freedom fighter who brought democracy to South Africa during the apartheid era. None of this would’ve been achieved had he not chosen to get rid of negative and toxic emotions and the anger that fed the black South Africans
3. Have good motivational skills
Any manager who wishes to be better than ordinary knows that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Being able to motivate employees and get them as amped about the project as you are, is a rare gift. Great management is not about throwing your weight around trying to show whose boss, buts it’s about being of service. One such man is Martin Luther King Jr, an activist of the civil right movement in the USA and it all started with a dream, a dream where everyone would be treated equally despite their race and that motivated thousands to join in the movement and fight for racial equality. Moral of the story, majority of people appreciate being around those who have a positive outlook in life and that is what sets leaders apart.
4. Be a game changers
Good management work well on the system, great management changes the system. It’s that word again, innovation. It’s not about being a rebel and fighting the system, but it’s about asking the why question. You don’t always have to follow the latest trends, sometimes even the little changes bring about revolutions to human civilization If that is too dramatic for you, just look at the iPad, Disney and many other greats who started with a single step.
5. Have a vision
AMC broadcasts a TV series called The Walking Dead, this may need no introduction for most but for those who do not know the show, the lead character is a man named Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln. The character is fictitious but still has a skill that every great manager should possess, having a vision, communicating that vision and seeing it through to the end. The plot is centered on the Zombie apocalypse and in season 3 of the series, his team of survivors see a prison, and while the rest are content to be on their merry way, Rick convinces the team to stay, he then persuades them of ridding the prison from the zombies and after that, just like he envisaged, they were able to turn the prison into a habitable and safe haven. Whether you believe in Zombies or not, you cannot doubt that having a vision and getting your team to not only see it but believe in it being a reality is the kind of cloth true leadership is cut from
6. Have great public speaking skills
Every manager is a communicator. Effective communication is crucial to those you manage to understand instructions given. More than that you should be able to speak publicly in an irreproachable manner. This point ties up with motivation, people skills and sharing visions. Speaking to big crowds to get your point across is also a good self-esteem booster, you will find yourself mentally stimulated and it forces you to become a person with valuable insights and opinions to share with others.
7. Listening skills
This is most important especially for managers who deal with big teams. Listening skills may sound obvious but it’s one many lack. The ability to; hear someone, understand them, sympathize with them, be on the lookout for ideas, watch out for body language, be attentive to the tone used, wait patiently for the person speaking to finish without interrupting – no matter how valid your point-, remove all other distractions and still put the person at ease all in a matter of minutes, is indeed something worth accomplishing. When you listen you become more objective, people feel respected when they know you’ve heard them out and can give rational reasons as to why or why not. Listening also makes you appear smarter.
8. Great intra-personal skills
Intra-personal skills is basically being self-aware. Knowing oneself, understanding self and appreciating your innermost feelings. Yes, this is all about YOU! Do you know what your shortcomings are? Do you know where your limitations are, are you aware of your strengths, do you know what angers you most, have you mastered how to control it? These are typical questions intra-personal skills answer amongst many others. When you know who you are and what you want, not only will you find it easier to understand and tolerate others but you become less judgmental of peoples flaws, this also gives you willingness to help others and their short comings
9. Be decisive
This skill matters most in the midst of crisis where the only option is the right option. Great managers are able to make decisions quickly and effectively when the occasion calls for it Mark Zuckerberg says he wears the same outfit everyday so as to not waste time making decisions on futile matters. Your values do not have to be the same as Zuckerberg’s but the underlying principle is worth taking note. Decisiveness saves you more time than anything and it also helps with fast thinking skills, something we need every day.
10. Have conceptual skills
This is not just a skill required by CEO’s and executive directors. Conceptual skills as defined by education-portal.com are; the ability to think creatively and understand complicated or abstract ideas. Managers usually have to formulate ideas, plan, organize and strategize on execution. This skill helps with thinking and problem solving ability. When your mind is wired to always find solutions, you will find yourself solving even those matters that you thought were impossible to overcome. This makes your life much easier and more enjoyable.
11. Be disciplined
The success of the Japanese economy is largely attributed to their uncanny ability to be self- disciplined. When mangers put down goals and targets that need to be accomplished, they lead by example and one such example is showing discipline. Not quitting and giving up until goals have been met. Doing what is required, when required without excuses. Discipline will help you achieve your personal goals, even something as big as starting your own business, because with discipline, whatever you put to mind you accomplish.
12. Be technologically savvy
This dos not require you to program software or code but knowing your computer is a survival skill in the 21st century. Managers in organisations are confronted by new in-house systems or applications and even basic databases, having Intel on new technology keeps you abreast and gives you competitive advantage. There is just no excuse to not knowing simple MS office. The web is full of information and online courses bridge any digital gap.
13. Learn how to delegate
Most people in position of authority don’t delegate out of fear that no one can do the job like they can, and that is the wrong approach to it. In fact having someone do something completely different to how you get it done is sometimes the source of innovation in the organisation. Delegation gives others the opportunity to show their strengths as well, it allows for fair game and saves you time to focus on your priority list.
14. Be a team builder
There is nothing better than a manager who build a sense of unity in an organisation. People work better in teams and even more so, can be very productive when they feel they belong. Great managers build good team spirit and always look out for their teams. People trust you more when they believe you have their best interest at heart.
15. Brush up on your skills
This is not just for managers but for everyone in general. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you’re done with school after a degree or writing board exam. The learning never stops. You can learn new skills as well or get the update on what’s new in your industry. The worse position to be in is irrelevant.
Becoming a better you is something worth striving for and what’s even more rewarding is not so much reaching your goals but who you become in pursuit of them.
