Leadership skills
Good managers lead, they don’t boss. Managers should be passionate and positive, define goals and targets clearly, while ensuring team spirit and motivation is high.
In 2018, the Chartered Management Institute published a report saying that 70 percent of employers believe that all students should study modules specializing in management, entrepreneurship and leadership.
Fortunately, degree programs such as the Master in Management at IE Business School are designed specifically to equip students with all the skills necessary to help them get their foot on the management career ladder.
Ranked sixth in the QS Business Masters Rankings 2019: Management, the Master in Management program at IE equips students with the necessary foundations of management, business, finance and marketing, while fostering essential workplace skills including leadership, communication and forward-planning skills.
Communication skills
Communication skills are considered the most vital skill in any job role. As a manager, they are particularly vital though as you are the main line of contact between senior management and entry-level employees. It’s your job to ensure communication flow up, down and across the organization is transparent and honest.
Being able to relay issues between colleagues and employees is an integral part of being a manager. You should therefore be comfortable communicating with those higher and lower than you, whether it’s face-to-face in a presentation, or via email or telephone call. Well-established communication channels are critical when it comes to positive collaborations between teams, as well as ensuring no information is lost or misplaced.
Which leads us nicely on to the next top skill…
Interpersonal skills
It goes without saying that if you’re unable to establish positive professional relationships, you’re going to struggle in a managerial role. Your ability to empathize with, listen to, understand, and connect with your fellow colleagues and employees is critical as you work as a team to meet deadlines and targets.
Having a good sense of emotional intelligence is also key. This can help you understand others’ behaviors, attitudes and feelings, which in turn can help you to understand how best to approach a situation and adjust plans accordingly.
By contrast, you should also be open to feedback and other points of view, remaining diplomatic and respectful at all times.
Commercial awareness
It’s crucial you have a thorough understanding of the marketplace, as well as the industry/sector you work in. Whether it’s healthcare, media and entertainment, or finance and banking, you’re going to need to have the required business expertise to help your organization be a success.
Students who study the Master in Management at IE Business School can take part in the insight-2-innovation Consulting Lab, collaborating with industry professionals to come up with innovative, customer-centric solutions.
An awareness of what’s happening in the world of politics and economics is also necessary, as these factors can also have a significant impact on the organization’s performance. Knowing who your competitors are, and how they operate, is also imperative.