Total Management Skills
To succeed, new and middle managers have to be very knowledgeable in their functional discipline, as well as having a good understanding of business and strategy. If this is not the case, the skills gaps are relatively easy to diagnose. But they also need the skills to drive performance. They need what we refer to at MCE as 'total management skills'.
How can these skills be identified and developed? We approach this by grouping management responsibilities into three main skills areas:
1. Operational Management: Getting the job done and achieving results
2. People Management: Managing and developing your team
3. Network Management: Influencing internal & external stakeholders
Most people who are promoted to management positions have been selected because they have a talent in at least one of these areas. Others are talented in two.
However, your career and that of your direct reports is limited if you do not take the trouble to develop in all three areas. To be of real value to your organization, you must become a ‘total’ manager.
