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3 skills for managers today

Submitted by Adrian Gaskell MCMI on Thu, 04/06/2009 - 09:41

The role of leaders and managers in today's business has changed dramatically from when I first started out as a rookie engineer in the late 70's. I believe that today's generation of managers will need to focus on developing three key skills or qualities to lead effectively.

  1. Profit through environmental care - Today's Generation Y have developed a deep passion and concern for the environment and won't associate with managers and organisations that show no concern.
  2. Flexibility - There is no job for life and careers are now a series of transactional jobs that develop or enhance transferable skills.
  3. Communication - More workers are working remotely and communication technology is developing almost exponentially. The leaders who can motivate remote teams to deliver business excellence will drive the future.

I see much in today's youngsters that give me hope for the future and given enlightened coaching, they will make a real difference in their lives.

This is a guest post by Vince Pizzoni, head of professional development at Cheltenham Ladies College, and a key contributor to our LinkedIn group. 

 

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Comments

Submitted by on Tue, 14/07/2009 - 17:55

Flexibility is a skill that is coming to managers slowly but surely in this recession. The offer of short working weeks - as apposed to outright redundancies as seen enmass in the last recession - has shown that managers care more about a broad range of people issue nowadays, and are keen to use flexibility to keep everything they can together in these tough times.

Submitted by on Thu, 13/08/2009 - 12:38

The skill of being able to motivate and interract with teams remotely is going to be vital to managers as we move to more remote working and internationalisation.

Unfortunately, as many posts have shown, basic motivational skills are often lacking in some managers so this is going to be a topic that will need a lot of work.

For those who can develop this skill the pickings will be very rich as they will be much sought after.

Submitted by on Mon, 17/08/2009 - 22:59

A key leadership skill in my opinion is recognising that leadership and management are actually two different things and learning to inspire as much as instruct is fundamental.