What are the Skills required to Lead and Manage?

Understanding the Distinction Between Leadership and Management

Management and leadership skills often overlap, leading to a common debate about their differences. While leadership focuses on guiding people, management involves overseeing processes. However, effective managers often need to embody both qualities to succeed.

The Role of Production in Management

Production involves transforming inputs into outputs, whether at the start or end of a chain. Key inputs include energy, materials, labor, capital, and information, while outputs can be goods or services. A manager’s role is to ensure these inputs are used efficiently to maintain quality and quantity.

Quote to Consider: “You manage things; you lead people.” – Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper

Expanding the Concept of Production

Production goes beyond manufacturing and includes operations management, which is crucial in any organization. These operations can be categorized into:

• Manufacturing
• Transportation
• Supply
• Service

Managers must possess comprehensive knowledge of the supply chain elements they are managing.

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The Complex Role of a Manager

A manager’s job is multifaceted, requiring a broad range of skills. With widespread responsibilities, managers often move from one challenge to another, akin to a “firefighter” addressing crises in production or finance.

Financial Acumen in Management

Managers need a solid grasp of financial analysis, adapted to their organizational level. This includes understanding management accounts, key ratios, cash flow, and their impact on the business. Confidentiality is crucial when handling sensitive financial data.

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Core Leadership Skills

Leading a team requires various essential skills, such as:

• Vision: Anticipating the future without losing sight of the present.
• Energy: Both physical and mental stamina are vital for effective leadership.
• Authority: The ability to implement change, whether through assigned or assumed power.
• Strategic Direction: Awareness of external factors like political, environmental, social, technological, legal, economic, and ethical influences affecting leadership.

(Also view our Innovation & Strategy Training Courses)

The Balance Between People and Production

Some academics argue that effective managers must balance concern for people with concern for production. Blake and Mouton’s Managerial Grid (1985) is a useful tool for assessing where you fall on this spectrum.

Are All Managers’ Roles Identical?

Managers rely on diverse skills and perform varying activities depending on their hierarchy level. However, human skills, such as effective communication, employee retention, and motivation, are increasingly important for all managers today.

The Importance of Job Descriptions and Development

Every manager should have an updated job description, serving as a contract between the employee and the organization. Regular appraisals should be conducted to ensure alignment with organizational goals.

Continuous Development and Growth

Managers should focus on personal development and career growth, supported by their organizations. This development should prepare them for higher responsibilities, even during economic downturns, boosting morale and readiness for future opportunities.

Inspiring Thought: “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” – Jack Welch

At AZTech Training, we offer a comprehensive range of Management and Leadership Training Courses to help professionals excel in their careers and achieve excellence in leadership and management.