“Before you become a leader, success is all about self-development. As a leader, success is all about developing others.” – Jack Welch, CEO of General Electric and author of Winning.
We’ve all held jobs where we have either absolutely loved and respected or completely detested our managers. Certain qualities can make or break what a good manager is.
Several TV shows outline a good manager as decisive and versatile, with a strong set of principles. So, what really decides what constitutes a good manager? This page discusses the essential features of management positions.
What Makes a Good Manager?
Though there might be several nuances in what a good manager does depending on the job, there are some things in common in everyone who does well in a leadership position.
Accessibility
A good manager makes his employees and subordinates feel included and not alienated.
He understands that to deliver quality work, employees should be satisfied with what they do. You can’t force good work out of disgruntled employees.
Wearing Multiple Hats
There is no one job when it comes to management. Every manager has to oversee everything that goes on under him, and that includes not only managing work but also people and operations.
Experience and Knowledge
No individual who inherited his job through contacts or family is going to be a good manager if he doesn’t have the required experience in the field.
Working in a professional setting exposes you to a plethora of situations that only time and practice can teach.
Analysis and Decision-Making
Every good manager has one thing in common: Clear thinking. It should be second nature for a manager to clearly see through every situation, recognize the problem areas, and come up with unique solutions to tackle them.
Some of these decisions will be hard to make, but a good manager will see them through anyway for the greater good.
Educational Qualifications
The qualities that we spoke about are all excellent personality traits that good managers have, but nobody’s going to hire you based purely on what kind of a person you are.
Especially in the modern world, you need the essential educational qualifications to back up your soft skills. Some of these are listed below.
Master of Business Administration
An MBA is one of the most renowned degrees to hold in today’s times, and for good reason.
MBA courses not only teach you knowledge of the business world, but they also put you in regular contact with situations that you might face in dealing with people and operations.
MBAs have different specializations, including but not limited to Finance, Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain Management. They usually last for two years, but several universities offer 1 year accelerated MBAs as well.
Post Graduate Diploma in Management
Though not as distinguished as an MBA degree, a PGDM is an excellent tool that would help you in landing a management job.
Some experts claim that a PGDM might even be a better option, as an MBA will focus more on technical and theoretical matters, while a PGDM will give you an in-depth understanding of the more practical, real-world aspects of a management position.
PGDMs, like MBAs, are offered in one or two-year periods, depending on the institute. However, be informed that getting a management certification is not easy.
Good institutes take a look at everything from your previous educational history to your work experience before they even give you a seat. Then there are the long hours, group projects, and assignments that need to be completed before you graduate.
The Bottom Line
If you are just looking to learn, there are always online business courses that you can take.
Hard work and a thirst for knowledge are often the keys to being successful, and if you lack those, no fancy degrees will get you to where you want to be.
We sincerely hope that you achieve the success in management that you’re looking for.
Also read – Social Media Management Jobs – How to Apply?