1.4 Management Skills

Managers require many skills.  This unit covers some important ones.

Technical Skill – Many management positions require the manager to have technical knowledge.  Technical knowledge doesn’t have to be something like computer or engineering skill.  Technical skill is the ability to do the job that the individual contributors must do.  Does the manager know how to order more inventory?  Does the manager know how the supply chain works?  In order to be an effective manager, it’s important to know what it is you are asking your employees to do.

Interpersonal Skill – A manager should be able to relate to their staff.  That doesn’t mean they have to be best friends.  It does mean that the manager should understand the problems and issues the staff has and be able to relate to them on a personal level.  Show empathy.

Communication Skill – This is a skill that many often confuse with interpersonal skill.  This skill relates to a manager’s ability to effectively communicate.  Do the employees receive the message?  A manager can turn red, threaten an employee, and scream something.  The message is probably received but it doesn’t show interpersonal skill.  Conversely, a manager may be kind, sweet, and soft but very vague in delivering a message.  That may show interpersonal skill but low communication skill.

Conceptual Skill – Does the manager see the big picture?  A manager may focus on the tasks that need to be done but miss what the organization is trying to accomplish.  For example, a sales manager may have their staff focusing on selling existing products to existing customers when the company is trying to move to a new market with new customers.

Diagnostic Skill – This is like diagnostics on a computer.  Can the manager see and solve problems?  This is an valuable skill for the business.  It is one thing to manage when things go smoothly.  It is another to identify problems and be able to solve them.

Decision-Making Skill – This may seem obvious but can the manager make good decisions?  Not only are the decisions correct but are they timely?  Some managers have “paralysis by analysis” where they continue to study a problem and delay making a decision.  Another aspect of this is the degree to which a manager involves employees in decision-making.  There are times when a manager should include employees in the decision-making process (recall Theory Z).  There are other times when a manager needs to be autocratic.

Time-Management Skill – Finally, it’s important for a manager to be aware of deadlines for deliverables and have a sense for what activities are filling the day.  It is easy to become involved in an issue and lose track of all that needs attention.