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.
