What it takes to be a Manager

Management skills are not as common as people might consider them to be. There are a lot of people designated as managers, but there are actually very few people who can be called managers in the true sense of the word, or more simply put, who we would term as a good manager.

On the outset one may consider that anyone can be a good manager with some training, but managerial skills is a talent, and like any talent some people are born with these skills and others struggle to achieve the same. This is not a theory people subscribe to in general and the thousands of B-schools that hold out the promise of churning out great managers would get a set-back if this theory gained popularity, but with time people will realise the same.

Earlier this was the case for Science versus non-Science students. Anyone who was academically sound just HAD to take up Science, there were no second thoughts on that. However over the years people have realised that a bright student need not necessarily have a scientific bent of mind and so taking up Medical or Engineering is no longer a per force choice for academcially sound students.

Today the same applies to management. Almost every graduate applies for a B-school and embarks on a journey to the management cadres. Again one does not assess whether one has the capacity and ability to be a good manager. Here are some thoughts...

• Do you happily delegate work to others?
• Can you get others to do something they are not willing to do at first?
• Are you quite happy pushing people to push themselves to their limit?
• Do you have the power to convince others to your point of view?
• Are you a good negotiator?
• Can your express your thoughts logically and succinctly in a verbal war?
  
  If you said yes to all the above, you probably have the makings of a good manager. Some of the key quality attributes of a good manager are:
  
  
  • A great deal of self-confidence
  • Verbal communication skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Ability to mentor and lead a team
  • Analytical skills
    
    So be sure you are on the right road.

People switch jobs out of boredom

Yes! Its true. Most people change jobs because they are bored of what they are doing. Or what in more proper HR parlance might be called job dissatisfaction.


What do I mean by job dissatisfaction? Is it that I am not happy with what I have been given, more often than not - it means I have been given nothing new to do and I am bored of doing the same thing day in and day out for the last couple of years. It means my work is no longer a challenge and does not require me to push myself mentally anymore. In other words my job makes me yawn!


In theory it may seem that knowing everything about your job and going through the daily routine with no sweat involved should keep me happy; but in reality it actually bores the life out of me and also gives me the time and bandwidth to think of jobs outside!


So HR managers and top management please note the importance of job rotation. Also the importance of keeping things moving and on the go. Make sure you are handing out new tasks to all employees equally and making each one feel challenged at work. As managers we often fall into the trap of handing out new projects to our pet protegees, so failing to give other employees a chance to get challenged and prove themselves. A sure way to lose employees with potential.


So make sure your employees have enough to do and of course that they are doing things in line with their skills and interests. You can't expect a content writer to feel elated at a sales job can you? So make sure you set your thinking cap on and work out how best you can leverage each employee. Get going and take up the challenge!

Body Language in a Job Interview

I was interviewing this guy for a marketing job, and his body language just put me off. Yes, its true, your non-verbal communication does effect the outcome of your interview. He was sitting with his one ankle placed on his knee, hands raised above and joined at the back of his head. The posture showed a condescending attitude and that was exactly what he projected. He knew his job well and fitted the profile in all ways - but this superior attitude really put me off.

And it wasn't just me, others on the Board too felt the same. No one really wanted a person who carried this I-know-it-all attitude around, even though it meant delaying a hire.

So see guys how important it is to get your body language and attitude right when at a job interview. Some quick tips on how to present yourself...

1. Sit up straight, with feet planted firmly on the floor. Do not cross your legs or sit with legs too far apart. Sitting casually with ankle on the knee is an absolute no-no as already discussed.

2. Maintain eye contact in a friendly manner. Do not over-do it and bore your eyes into the interviewer!!

3. A firm handshake at the start and close of the session conveys confidence. No limp handshakes please - that goes for you too ladies!

4. Let your hands fall naturally. Do not clench your fists or play with your hands and certainly don't crack your knuckles.

So if you want to land that job, make sure you get your body language right. All the best!

(Also read my blog : http://lifeworkplace.blogspot.com/ - A look at the lighter side of life at the workplace!)