Every manager has his or her own leadership style and carries out day-to-day duties in a unique way. Successful managers, however, have many traits in common, no matter the size of their companies or organizations. Enrolling in an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is an excellent opportunity for professionals to hone their management skills and develop the qualities companies look for.

Set a Positive Mindset

In her book Mindset, Carol Dweck dedicates an entire section to the impact a manager’s positive growth mindset can have on the entire team or organization. She also maintains that having a growth mindset is not necessarily an innate management skill, but it can be learned. Successful managers will find ways to model a positive mindset for their teams.

Create a Vision

In a similar vein, good managers can create visions for their companies that inspire their teams to succeed. These managers know the best ways to convey big picture goals and what it will take the team to accomplish them. This facet of leadership might not involve nitty-gritty details; rather, it helps the team focus on the goal and ignore distractions.

Cultivate Strengths

Another management skill related to creating and sharing company visions is the ability to recognize team members’ strengths and capitalize on them to benefit everyone else on the team. Good leaders set professional development examples for their teams to follow, and they encourage everyone to continually develop their skills. This trait returns to the idea of the positive mindset and the importance of leading by example.

Delegate Effectively

Successful leaders also know the best ways to build teams and delegate tasks. One person cannot do everything, so a good manager finds other people who can help him or her accomplish daily tasks and reach quarterly and yearly goals. A good manager also knows that his or her own success depends on everyone else’s first.

Promote Communication

Perhaps the greatest management skill is the art of effective communication. Successful managers keep an open line of communication with their teams, and they foster similar connections between the team members themselves. Managers should encourage accountability, and they should reward their teams for asking good questions.

Any of these management skills can come naturally to a good manager, but aspiring leaders can also learn them with dedication and hard work. An online MBA program places potential managers in courses and practical situations that challenge them to develop as leaders.

Learn more about the Southeastern Oklahoma State University online MBA program.

Sources:

http://hbr.org/2005/03/what-great-managers-do

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238129

http://www.forbes.com/sites/victorlipman/2013/09/09/5-things-the-best-managers-do-and-dont-do/#6a721c773edd

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