Your Five Point Plan to Build Strong Management Skills for a Great Career

Dreaming of becoming a leader someday?
Mastering the art of managing people -- and projects -- is crucial if you want to advance in your career. Whether you aspire to lead a team, a department ... or maybe even an entire company ... developing leadership skills is key.

So in this piece we'll share our Five Point Plan on how to excel as a manager and prepare yourself for a successful career!

1. Promote Effective Communication

Communication lies at the heart of successful management. Accomplished managers are communicators who can articulate ideas clearly, actively listen, and encourage open conversations.

Below are some suggestions to refine your communication abilities:

1. Practice listening; Focus your attention when others speak: maintain eye contact and refrain from interruptions. Active listening fosters understanding and of course it nurtures trust.
2. Be precise and straightforward; Convey thoughts and instructions in a manner using language that resonates with everyone. Think to yourself: do they understand what I’m saying?
3. Foster open dialogues; Cultivate an atmosphere where team members feel empowered to voice their thoughts, concerns and suggestions. Invite feedback. Embrace different viewpoints as a great opportunity to learn.

2. Develop Your Decision-Making Skills

To excel as a leader you'll often face decisions that impact your team, group or even the organization as a whole. Having the ability to make decisions is vital, for not only solving problems, but also getting to where you want to be.

Here are some effective strategies to enhance your decision making skills:

1. Get hold of the information you need; Prior to making a decision be sure to gather comprehensive data from reliable sources. In other words, don’t “wing it” if you’re not sure!
2. Consider different viewpoints; Seek input from team members, colleagues and experts in the field to gain a rounded perspective of the situation.
3. Evaluate the consequences; assess the potential outcomes and risks associated with each decision option.
4. Act decisively; After weighing the advantages and disadvantages make a decision and clearly communicate it to your team. Procrastination can lead to uncertainty and diminish trust.

Employers like Higher Hire value candidates with the right level of skills. By following these guidelines you can acquire what’s needed to become a leader. This will help you progress in your career. And excel in the leadership roles you take on.

3. Foster Leadership and Motivation

This is essential, if you want to be a manager who inspires others to perform at their best. (And you should want to inspire...)

When you lead effectively you can cultivate a work environment that's energetic and positive.  Here, everyone feels valued and wants to do well.
Here are some key approaches to consider:

1. Set an example; Demonstrate the values, work ethic and behaviors you want the team to embody. Your actions carry much more weight than simple words.
2. Offer feedback; Provide specific and actionable feedback to support team members in their growth and development.
3. Show appreciation; Celebrate achievements, recognize successes. Thank people for the work they do. And for the results they get. Acknowledgment boosts morale and builds motivation.
4. Delegate; Empower you people by trusting them with tasks and responsibilities. You’ll instill a sense of ownership and enable people to develop.

Embrace Lifelong Learning

The business landscape is always changing.  So don’t stand still!  Effective managers are those who adapt to new trends, technologies and best practices. Make a commitment to learning and personal growth as follows:

1. Solicit feedback and mentorship; Seek advice from superiors, colleagues and those you manage. Engage with people who can offer insights gained from their own experiences.
2. Attend workshops and seminars; Engage in these activities to stay up to date with industry advancements and also to refine your skills.

Develop Emotional Intelligence

Being aware of your emotions, understanding those of others and managing emotions effectively are central to being a good boss! Improving your emotional intelligence can help you build relationships handle, conflicts better and create a positive, thriving work environment.

Here are some tips to boost your emotional intelligence:

1. Practice self awareness; Take time to reflect on your emotions, triggers and actions to gain a better understanding of yourself.
2. Handle stress and emotions; Adopt ways to cope with stress and manage your emotions during tough times.
3. Show empathy towards others; Make an effort to empathize with team members’ viewpoints, feelings and motivations. Empathy strengthens connections and teamwork.
4. Offer support; Foster a supportive atmosphere where team members feel encouraged to share their concerns and seek guidance.

Closing Thoughts

Our Five Point Plan will help you to advance in your career as a leader.  So make these points central to your thinking.

Open communication and effective decision making lay the ground work for a secure working environment. Your leadership style and willingness to learn build on it.  And developing the emotional intelligence of yourself and you team will put the icing on the cake.

By honing these abilities you'll soon be prepared for leadership roles where you can excel and make a lasting positive impact.