Delegating responsibilities is one of the most important skills today’s managers should know, but it is certainly not the only one. Great business leaders need a firm grasp on several key technical skills if they want to maximize the productive impact they have on their company. Even if you don’t have the time to master all these skills right away, improving your ability with even a few of them can yield substantial results for you, your employees, and your company.
Time Tracking and Management
Depending on the number of employees and scope of your projects, business managers must be able to make informed and prudent decisions regarding employee time. Employee hours are a vital and limited resource, just like money or equipment, so it’s important to manage it in the same way you would any other resource.
Managers must be able to identify weak points or problems in current time management practices and adjust them to yield better results. They should also make sure to make effective use of their own time in the office to set a positive example of productivity for their workers. For example, if you notice your business practices slow to a crawl during certain times of day or week, maybe switch up the roles employees have then and see if the pace can pick up again. An education in business management practices might be a good way to brush up on these skills.
Networking Savvy and Social Etiquette
The ability to make conversation may not seem like the most technical skill, but it certainly does require finesse and technique. As more networking opportunities emerge in digital environments, managers need to be able to navigate online conversations and social media in order to keep pace. Get to know others in the industry and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, whether it’s in-person or online.
Mastery of Software Basics
Even if there are employees to serve as dedicated software experts, managers should have at least a basic understanding of the essential virtual tools used in their company. Skills with word processing programs and data management software, like Microsoft Excel, are required for many managerial tasks. Managers in the food service industry may need to learn the specifics about their employer’s point-of-sale software so they can troubleshoot when issues arise.
Data Gathering and Analysis
Business leaders need to be able to find the information they need and determine whether it is accurate or not. There is a huge difference between well-informed managers and those who take shots in the dark when it comes time to make an important decision. While some data analysis techniques require advanced technical skills, there are many ways managers can improve the rate and quality of the flow of information within their company with only basic skills.
Technical Communications
Most people in management positions have to interact with a large number of individuals both inside and outside the organization. In many cases, they are responsible for going between multiple parties, including upper management, customers, and employees. This means they need to know how to properly format, input, and send communications in a variety of settings. They also need to know how to translate complex or technical information into phrasing that makes sense to the intended reader.
These are just some of the skills managers today need to build up great companies and businesses.
