What Is Management?

Management is the set of principles an organization follows to guide and support its daily operations and long-term goals. Those in management positions oversee the planning, directing, controlling, and administering of such principles. They work as an intermediary between low- or mid-level employees and those in executive positions. The purpose of a manager is to help their team meet their company’s objectives and stay on task.

The job duties of a manager can vary by industry and seniority level. With this in mind, here are the basic functions of someone in a management position:

• Setting goals and objectives: A manager works with their team to set goals that align with the company’s objectives. They may help employees come up with a plan to reach their goals and measure their success. Upper-level managers may work with executives to define what the objectives of the company are.
• Organizing work: Delegating work among employees is a major part of a manager’s job. They typically assign work based on an employee’s job title, strengths, and availability. Throughout the course of a project, they use their organizational skills to ensure their team is on track and finishing everything on time.
• Motivating their team: Knowing how to motivate all kinds of employees is an important ability for a manager to have. While some people thrive off of a rewards system, others need more intrinsic motivators to stay productive. A manager knows how to encourage different personality types to feel motivated.
• Developing their team: Workplaces that focus on employee development tend to have managers who care about the personal growth of their team members. They may do this by providing employee trainings, holding performance reviews, or teaching their team new skills.
• Measuring success: Managers use all kinds of metrics to measure the progress of their team. They are often responsible for reporting this back to high-level management or executives.

Get to know the different levels of management:

• Low-level management: Those just starting out in a management position would begin in this level of management. Although they oversee the daily operations of their team, they are less likely to work closely with the executives of a company. Instead, they would report to the middle manager to learn what goals and objectives their team should be meeting.
• Middle management: Those in these roles have a bit more responsibility. They may work with executives and upper management to plan the company’s upcoming initiatives. Communicating new company policies or objectives to their team is a big part of their role. They work to ensure low-level management is keeping their team productive and motivated.
• Senior management: Those in executive roles tend to be considered senior management. They oversee the operations and functions of the entire company. They look for ways to make the company’s systems efficient and profitable. They tend to work more with clients and the general public when it comes to planning new tasks or goals.

Here are some common management styles:

• Autocratic: A top-down approach to management. These types of leaders make decisions on their own, without consulting their team or seeking feedback.
• Consultative: Although these kinds of managers are the sole decision-makers, they tend to consult their team before making any important choices. They care about how their actions will affect their team and often have open-door policies.
• Democratic: These leaders openly discuss and debate their decisions with their team. They work to come to a consensus on what moves to make for the company. Democratic leaders value what their team has to say and often put their ideas into action.
• Laissez-faire: Rather than keeping a close eye on employees, these laid-back managers are there when an employee asks for assistance. They trust their team to get their work done but can provide support and guidance when someone needs it.
• Persuasive: These managers are open and honest with their team about the decisions they make. They work hard to help employees understand the rationale behind changes within the company.
• Transformational: The goal of these leaders is to push their team outside of their comfort level. By expecting innovative thinking and hard work, they can help their team grow professionally.

Improve your management skills by following these tips:

• Be open to communication. Help your team feel comfortable bringing up any questions or concerns to you. This way, you can improve your management style and help your team succeed.
• Provide training opportunities. Your team’s training shouldn’t stop after your onboarding process. Instead, you should regularly assess areas that your team could improve and offer training sessions for those who are interested.
• Show empathy. Whenever you make decisions on behalf of your team, be mindful of everyone’s feelings. Think about what you would want from a manager. Remember, everyone has things going on outside of work, so try to always treat your team kindly.
• Foster collaboration. Find ways to get your team to work together. This could be delegating different parts of a project to multiple people. You could also organize team-building activities to help everyone get to know each other better.
• Set a good example. Your team looks to you as their role model. Make an effort to show your team how they should behave in the workplace. This means treating others with respect, coming to work on time, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
• Ask for feedback. Learn which management skills you could improve by sending out an anonymous survey to your team. Ask what you are doing well and what you could improve.