Developing Good Management Skills

By Ann Halloran

You have finally come into your own and landed a management job and now you want to develop good management skills. Obviously, you have already exhibited some skill to get where you are. Now you want to maintain your position or move up the ladder. This will take some skill, but it also takes knowing what not to do in your first week on the job. Below are a few do’s and don'ts that you will want to keep in mind while developing your management skills.

Entrance

How you enter the company will determine a great deal about how you progress. You already know how important first impressions are and while you can overcome an initial faux pas, life will be much easier if you do not make mistakes early in the game. If you have been freshly hired into the company as management as opposed to moving up from within, you will want to tread lightly in the beginning.

Your first few weeks at a new company will involve nothing more strenuous than maintaining business as usual. Go in with guns blazing trying to transform the company will send a message that you think you know more than the employees do. And even worse, that you know more than managers who may have been there for years. This is not the first impression you want to make. Whether you see mistakes or not resist the temptation to make changes too early. You need to gain the respect and confidence of your colleagues before making radical suggestions.

Fired Up

It is easy to be overly excited in your new role. You may want to go at a fast pace all day and all night, which is to be expected but resisted. You can easily burn yourself out in your new position by trying to take on too much too soon. Working too many hours will reduce your personal productivity as well. At some point you may get burnt out. It is better to look at your normal day as challenge enough and target important work when you are most productive.

People Skills

When you are a manager, you will have to work with people at all levels, both inside and outside the company. Learn how to communicate effectively and develop some tact or diplomacy, both is even better. Part of this process will include getting to know the people you work with better. The more you understand them the better you can lead. For instance, if you know that Susie down the hall works well with limited instructions you can save valuable time by handing her assignments and letting her complete the tasks. On the other hand, you would work closely with those who want close guidance and support. Knowing how people work, their personality and even some understanding of their personal life will make you a more effective leader.

Conclusion

You do not have to know everything there is to know about management to take the position, however you will want to learn all you can quickly. A mentor is a great way to develop the skills you already have as well as learning some new ones. It can be exciting and fulfilling to manage a business, be it big or small. So make sure you are being the best manager you are capable of being.

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