Management Skills

A list of attributes or abilities that an executive should possess in order to fulfill

specific tasks² Management Skills

Management skills can be defined as certain attributes or
abilities that an executive should possess in order to fulfill
specific tasks in an organization. They include the capacity to
perform executive duties in an organization while avoiding
crisis situations and promptly solving problems when they
occur. Management skills can be developed
through learning and practical experience as a manager. The
skills help the manager to relate with their fellow co-workers
and know how to deal well with their subordinates, which
allows for the easy flow of activities in the organization.
Good management skills are vital for any organization to
succeed and achieve its goals and objectives. A manager who
fosters good management skills is able to propel the
company’s mission and vision or business goals forward with
fewer hurdles and objections from internal and external
sources. Management and leadership skills are often used
interchangeably as they both involve planning, decision-
making, problem-solving, communication, delegation,
and time management. Good managers are almost always
good leaders as well. In addition to leading, a critical role of a
manager is to also ensure that all parts of the organization are
functioning cohesively. Without such integration, several
issues can arise and failure is bound to happen. Management
skills are crucial for various positions and at different levels of
a company, from top leadership to intermediate supervisors to
first-level managers.
Types of Management SkillsAccording to American social and
organizational psychologist Robert Katz, the three basic types
of management skills include:
Technical skills involve skills that give the
1. Technical Skills
managers the ability and the knowledge to use a variety of
techniques to achieve their objectives. These skills not only
involve operating machines and software, production tools,
and pieces of equipment but also the skills needed to boost
sales, design different types of products and services, and
market the services and the products.
These involve the skills managers present in
2. Conceptual Skills
terms of the knowledge and ability for abstract thinking and
formulating ideas. The manager is able to see an entire
concept, analyze and diagnose a problem, and find creative
solutions. This helps the manager to effectively predict hurdles
their department or the business as a whole may face.
The human or the interpersonal skills
3. Human or Interpersonal Skills
are the skills that present the managers’ ability to interact,
work or relate effectively with people. These skills enable the
managers to make use of human potential in the company and
motivate the employees for better results.
Examples of Management Skills

There is a wide range of skills that management should

possess to run an organization effectively and efficiently. The
following are six essential management skills that any
manager ought to possess for them to perform their duties:
1. PlanningPlanning is a vital aspect within an organization.
Planning is one’s ability to organize activities in line with set
guidelines while still remaining within the limits of the
available resources such as time, money, and labor. It is also
the process of formulating a set of actions or one or more
strategies to pursue and achieve certain goals or objectives
with the available resources. The planning process includes
identifying and setting achievable goals, developing necessary
strategies, and outlining the tasks and schedules on how to
achieve the set goals. Without a good plan, little can be
achieved.

2. Possessing great communication skills is

Communication
crucial for a manager. It can determine how well information
is shared throughout a team, ensuring that the group acts as a
unified workforce. How well a manager communicates with
the rest of his/her team also determines how well outlined
procedures can be followed, how well the tasks and activities
can be completed, and thus, how successful an organization
will be.
Communication involves the flow of information within the
organization, whether formal or informal, verbal or written,
vertical or horizontal, and it facilitates smooth functioning of
the organization. Clearly established communication channels
in an organization allow the manager to collaborate with the
team, prevent conflicts, and resolve issues as they arise. A
manager with good communication skills can relate well with
the employees and thus, be able to achieve the company’s set
goals and objectives easily.
3. Decision-makingAnother vital management skill is decision-
making. Managers make numerous decisions, whether
knowingly or not, and making decisions is a key component in
a manager’s success. Making proper and right decisions result
in the success of the organization, while poor or bad decisions
may lead to failure or poor performance. For the organization
to run effectively and smoothly, clear and right decisions
should be made. A manager must be accountable for every
decision that they make and also be willing to take
responsibility for the results of their decisions. A good
manager needs to possess great decision-making skills, as it
often dictates his/her success in achieving organizational
objectives.
4. Delegation Delegation is another key management skill.
Delegation is the act of passing on work-related tasks and/or
authorities to other employees or subordinates. It involves the
process of allowing your tasks or those of your employees to
be re-assigned or re-allocated to other employees depending
on current workloads. A manager with good delegation skills
is able to effectively and efficiently re-assign tasks and give
authority to the right employees. When delegation is carried
out effectively, it helps facilitate quick and easy results.
Delegation helps the manager to avoid wastage of time,
optimizes productivity, and ensures responsibility and
accountability on the part of employees. Every manager must
have good delegation abilities to achieve optimal results and
accomplish the required productivity results
Problem-solving is another essential skill. A
5. Problem-solving
good manager must have the ability to tackle and solve the
frequent problems that can arise in a typical workday.
Problem-solving in management involves identifying a certain
problem or situation and then finding the best way to handle
the problem and get the best solution. It is the ability to sort
things out even when the prevailing conditions are not right.
When it is clear that a manager has great problem-solving
skills, it differentiates him/her from the rest of the team and
gives subordinates confidence in his/her managerial skills.
The ability to motivate is another important skill in
6. Motivating
an organization. Motivation helps bring forth a desired
behavior or response from the employees or certain
stakeholders. There are numerous motivation tactics that
managers can use, and choosing the right ones can depend on
characteristics such as company and team culture, team
personalities, and more. There are two primary types of
motivation that a manager can use. These are intrinsic and
extrinsic motivation.
Bottom LineManagement skills are a collection of abilities that
include things such as business planning, decision-making,
problem-solving, communication, delegation, and time
management. While different roles and organizations require
the use of various skill sets, management skills help a
professional stand out and excel no matter what their level. In
top management, these skills are essential to run an
organization well and achieve desired business objectives.