Let's face it - In Management, the one thing you can be certain of is constant change, added responsibilities and rising expectations. The most successful managers are those who learn to increase their flexibility, expand their managerial skills and close gaps. You need to become a multidimensional manager. In short, you must be willing to invest in yourself and your people.

The top 6 skills that make a great manager are:

  1. Leadership
  2. Communication
  3. Collaboration
  4. Critical Thinking
  5. Finance
  6. Project Management

Why are managerial skills necessary?

In any management job, there are a set of competencies that you need to become indispensable. We believe there are 6 skills that make up the foundation of a good manager. First and foremost is leadership, without the ability to be an effective team leader, your projects may be delayed, deadlines missed, and employee morale can suffer.

Proper communication cannot be understated. Developing this skill can help you motivate your staff, manage internal and client expectations, and resolve conflict between team members. As a manager, you are often required to collaborate with other team members up and down the corporate ladder. Mastering collaboration is an essential part of being successful on the job.

Managing teams and developing strategy are some of the main tasks on any manager's plate, and critical thinking is a key component in both. The power to think critically will do wonders for your problem-solving capability, and aptitude to make tactical decisions. Finance skills are also a part of the job, whether you’re balancing marketing budgets or working on payroll, understanding how to make strategic decisions based on financial risks and rewards is a necessary skill for every manager.

Lastly Project management is all encompassing. The job of a project manager is to manage all the elements of planning and executing a given project. Mastering the other 5 managerial skills will help you be a more effective project manager.

AMA's list of the 6 key seminar topic areas to improve your managerial skills

People attend AMA’s management seminars because they're ready to make changes. Changes that will ultimately deliver the results needed for a long and fruitful career. AMA has more than 95 years of experience training hundreds of thousands of managers and leaders to excel in their roles.

AMA has identified this list of 6 core competencies that are crucial to your success as a leader and manager.

 

  • 1. Management and Leadership Skills

    To set priorities, delegate, motivate and develop your people, coach them to become top performers, and communicate objectives and goals.

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  • 2. Communication Skills

    To get your point across, create a compelling presentation to support your goals and get buy-in for ideas, inspire others to achieve better results and demonstrate emotional intelligence.

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  • 3. Collaboration Skills

    So you can value and celebrate differences, build rapport, form alliances and negotiate effectively.

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  • 4. Critical Thinking Skills

    To approach problem solving logically, research options, avoid biases and focus on meaningful data to draw the right conclusions—even under pressure.

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  • 5. Finance Skills

    To weigh the dollars-and-cents implications of your decisions—including the capability to build a sound budget and formulate reasonable forecasts.

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  • 6. Project Management Skills

    To grasp the scope and objectives of projects, recognize the roles and responsibilities of others, and use PM tools to stay on track and become an effective member of a cross-functional team.

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