WHAT IS MANAGEMENT?

Management has been defined as the art of getting things done through the efforts of other people.

WHAT BUSINESS MANAGERS DO

As the manager of a business you will perform a number of tasks. Here are twenty things you might have to do:

1. Formulate business objectives and develop strategic plans
2. Make projections
3. Allocate tasks to others
4. Acquire resources for the business
5. Participate in meetings and run staff meetings
6. Communicate with persons inside and outside of the business
7. Motivate workers
8. Train employees
9. Oversee projects
10. Set a good example for employees
11. Set and regulate working hours
12. Coach and counsel staff
13. Appraise workers’ performance
14. Hire and discipline staff
15. Support staff
16. Organise staff development
17. Build work-teams
18. Resolve conflicts
19. Implement decisions
20. Initiate change

CATEGORIES OF SKILLS A BUSINESS MANAGER NEEDS

i. Conceptual: general analytical skills
ii. Technical-knowledge: competence to perform work
iii. Human relations: understand, motivate and work with others

ESSENTIAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SKILLS

i. Planning and goal setting
ii. Decision-making
iii. Accounting know-how, Financial and Money Management
iv. Human resource management
v. Production management
vi. Marketing
vii. Communication and business negotiation
viii. Computer literacy
ix. Time and Stress Management
x. Networking
xi. Creative Problem-solving and Conflict Management
xii. Conducting effective meetings
xiii. Team Building
xiv. Leadership

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE MANAGERS

• Willingness to work hard.
• Ability to persevere.
• Determined.
• Willingness to take calculated risks.
• Ability to inspire enthusiasm.
• Courageous.