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I have learned that Leadership skills are needed to set the vision, and management skills are needed to implement a plan to achieve that vision. However, recognizing the difference between leadership and management can help individuals focus on developing their skills in both arenas. The greatest success comes when strong leadership is paired with effective management.

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Ive learned that motivation is what energizes, maintains, and controls behavior. It is clear why it plays an important role in the workplace. It is widely accepted, however, that motivated employees generate higher value and lead to more substantial levels of achievement.

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Measuring performance is vital to assessing the value of employee and management activities. It provides useful insights for conducting annual reviews of managers and employees and is also important for understanding how a company is performing compared with its competitors. This requires two types of measurement: individual (employee) evaluations and organization evaluations.

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I've learned that Organizational standards and objectives are important elements in any business plan because they guide managerial decision-making. To create reachable objectives, an organization needs to understand where it is, where it wants to go, and who it is competing against. A company’s standards define how it should act, while its objectives determine its actions. Combining standards and objectives allows management to create a business strategy.

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Managing Human Resources and Communications

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Managing Human Resources and Communications

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I have learned that communication involves actions that confer knowledge and experience, give advice and commands, and ask questions. These actions may take many forms depending on the abilities and resources of the individual communicators. Together, content and form make messages that are sent toward a destination. The destination can be oneself, another person, or another entity, such as a corporation or group of people.

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Managing Human Resources and Communications

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Managing Human Resources and Communications

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Managing Human Resources and Communications

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I've learned that HR managers can protect the company against discrimination lawsuits by understanding discrimination laws and implementing policies to avoid discrimination. Should discrimination occur despite workplace policies against it, HR managers can work with upper management to quickly address individual issues, compensate employees, and discipline managers who discriminate. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the laws against discrimination in the workplace.

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Managing Human Resources in Organizations

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I have learned the difference between the three primary variables that interact to explain much of an organization’s structure: size, age, and industry. Organizations typically start the structure process by clarifying what it will take to do the work, meet goals, grow sales, etc. You will see great consistencies in the structure that develops across organizations in many different industries.

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I have learned that the various cultural perspectives and many organizational elements within a culture, the initial process of instilling culture is relatively consistent from a managerial perspective. The creation of a given culture is often defined by management’s strategy for addressing these issues:

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I have learned that making decisions is easy, but Making the right decision is hard. When making decisions, you will face many barriers, including the quality of information you have, the amount of time allowed, and several cognitive biases that will influence your decisions. Satisficing, optimizing, intuitive, rational, combinatorial, and positional are common styles of decision-making.

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I have learned that Planning is the process of setting goals and defining the actions required to achieve the goals. Planning begins with goals. Goals are derived from vision and mission statements, but these statements describe what the organization wants to achieve, not necessarily what it can achieve.

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I have learned that a globalization organization is any organization that competes outside its native country. Globalization is the process by which the exchange of goods, services, capital, technology, and knowledge across international borders becomes increasingly interconnected. Globalization creates new opportunities for businesses to increase profits by expanding markets and allowing wider access to resources. On the other hand, globalization also opens domestic markets to new competitors, decreasing demand for local products.

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I have learned that when companies decide to expand internationally, they must be aware of cultural differences. Managers need to be attuned to their cultural surroundings to be effective. Managers must also consider different communication practices. In some countries, direct feedback is considered impolite, and managers must be able to read subtle body language to determine if the receiver has understood and accepted the message.

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Management within a Global Organization in other countries

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Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

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Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

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I have learned that ethics is principles of conduct or moral behavior. Business ethics is ethics as it relates to the conduct or behavior of the members of a business organization. The need for ethics in business is twofold. First, it prevents the external constituents of an organization (i.e., the public, other organizations, and the environment) from being harmed. Second, it benefits the organization internally by helping to ensure its success.

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Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

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Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

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Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

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I have learned that a diverse workplace isn’t always easy to achieve, as some locations, industries, and positions tend to attract people of specific backgrounds. To diversify the workplace, some companies make a significant effort to reach out to diverse communities. For example, they might reach out to the veterans community, which includes thousands of individuals of all backgrounds, many of whom have solid training and experience.

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Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility diversity

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I have learned that management is the process of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling people in the organization so that they can effectively use resources to meet organizational goals.

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I have learned the types (levels) of managers and some of their responsibilities but not their specific activities. All managers must be comfortable with three main types of activities or roles. To do their jobs, managers assume these different roles. No manager stays in any one role all of the time but shifts back and forth. These roles are leadership (or interpersonal), informational, and decision making. They were written about in detail in the 1970s by Henry Mintzberg, a professor at McGill University in Canada. His classifications are still one of the most studied descriptors of management roles today.

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Management is how businesses organize and direct workflow, operations, and employees to meet company goals. The primary goal of management is to create an environment that lets employees work efficiently and productively. A solid organizational structure serves as a guide for workers and establishes the tone and focus of their work.

Managers are involved in implementing and evaluating these structures. As a manager, you may be responsible for doing any of the following tasks:

Create goals and objectives

Create schedules

Develop strategies to increase performance, productivity, and efficiency

Ensure compliance with company policies and industry regulations

Monitor budgets, productivity levels, and performance

Resolve customer problems

Train staff

In this article, you'll learn more about management, its different styles, what managers do, and the jobs you can expect to encounter in the field.

Key functions of a manager

Managers have several functions within an organization. You'll usually see these functions divided into four interconnected groups. Understanding them can help you identify your strengths and areas of need to choose the proper training to improve your skills.

Planning

The first function of a manager is to set goals. These goals may be for individual employees, departments, or the entire organization, depending on the manager's level of responsibility. In addition to setting goals, managers often develop action items along with strategies and resources to complete tasks and meet goals.

Organizing

Meeting organizational goals requires putting the right people in the right places. Managers can play an important role in choosing workers for positions and projects. Knowing how to group people and help them build relationships often significantly affects how well the group works together. Sometimes managers need to train employees for specific tasks to ensure they have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

Motivating

Managers help motivate employees to show up and stay productive. This includes sharing a common vision, encouraging them to develop their strengths, and inspiring them to do their best work at all times. Having effective communication skills is essential for filling this role.

Evaluating

Managers typically spend time measuring the success of their teams and how well they meet goals. The more they understand what works and doesn't work, the better prepared they are to make decisions in the future. Managers must understand and adjust strategies to meet company goals.
Read more: What Is Management Science? + How to Enter This Field
Levels of management

Low: The final level of management often has a supervisory role. These managers have titles like shift supervisor, branch manager, or team leader. They work with individuals and teams to meet goals determined by upper management. They typically have less influence over company policy compared to the other management levels, but the most interaction with workers.

In many organizations, management falls into one of three levels: top, middle, and low. Managers in smaller companies may fill roles at more than one level, while larger organizations may have several managers within each level.

Read more: 11 Key Project Management Skills

Management styles

The way you choose to manage your team or department can have a direct effect on how they're able to meet their goals. What you say and do may send powerful messages to employees about how you value their contributions and your level of trust in them. Understanding different management styles and when they're most and least useful may be helpful. The list below highlights some of the more common styles used by managers.

Authoritative

Authoritative leaders tend to make decisions without feedback from others. This approach works well when you need to respond quickly to a situation and don't have time for debate. If you rely on this approach too much, you may see high levels of turnover within the organization and stalled innovation.

Coaching

Some managers view their role as that of a coach who sees the potential in employees and wants to help them grow. This can effectively build strong teams and create an environment where employees feel comfortable experimenting. Employees typically have a sense of autonomy under this style, but those who need more direction may feel some neglect.

Democratic

Democratic managers value the input of employees in the decision-making process and usually believe having more ideas is better than having a few. This management style may help empower employees and increase their motivation to work toward common goals. However, sorting through all of the voices and finding a consensus to make a decision can take time.

Transformational

In a transformational management style, managers prioritize innovation and growth. These managers encourage employees to discover just what they're capable of achieving. Workers with transformational leaders tend to be happy and dedicated to their work, but they must be able to adapt to sudden changes.

Visionary

A visionary leader knows how to ensure every team member understands the company's vision and is working toward a common goal. These leaders tend to be excellent communicators and typically give workers plenty of autonomy as long as they effectively execute the vision.

Careers in management

Managers work in almost every type of company and industry. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects management positions to grow 8 percent 2021-2031 as entrepreneurs start new companies and existing organizations expand their operations [ 1]. The following management job titles show how varied these positions can be.

Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers

Median annual salary (US): $133,380 [ 2]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2021 to 2031): 10%

As an advertising, promotions, or marketing manager, you help companies promote their products and services through strategic campaigns. You'll typically need a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or advertising to qualify for this type of position. Before becoming a manager, you may build work experience as a sales representative, buyer, or public relations specialist.

Construction managers

Median annual salary (US): $98,890 [ 3]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2021 to 2031): 8%

Construction managers typically divide their time between the office and a construction site. In this role, you may set budgets, hire sub-contractors or crew members, oversee their work, and adjust plans to meet deadlines. Depending on your employer, you may need a bachelor's degree in construction, business, or engineering, along with experience as a skilled worker or intern in the construction field.

Read more: How to Become a Construction Manager: Your Guide

Financial managers

Median annual salary (US): $131,710 [ 4]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2021 to 2031): 17%

As a financial manager, you may work in various environments where you analyze data, create financial reports, and help individuals or companies set and meet financial goals. Before pursuing this career, you'll need a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or economics. In some cases, you may want to earn industry certification as well. You can work your way up into this role through experience as a loan officer, an accountant, or similar positions within a company.

Read more: What Is Finance Management?

Food service managers

Median annual salary (US): $59,440 [ 5]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2021 to 2031): 10%
Read more: What Is Hospitality Management? Careers, Skills, Salaries, and More
Food service managers work in restaurants, cafeterias, and hotels, overseeing kitchen and wait staff. In this position, you may create schedules, order supplies, and ensure employees follow food safety guidelines. Although you can usually enter this field with a high school diploma or equivalent, you may find it helpful to earn a degree in hospitality management or culinary studies. You'll likely need some experience working in a restaurant as a cook, waiter, or food prep supervisor.

Medical and health services managers

Median annual salary (US): $101,340 [ 6]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2021 to 2031): 28%

As a medical or health services manager, you may work in a doctor's office, hospital, rehab facility, or similar environment where you may supervise and coordinate health care providers and support staff's work. You'll need at least a bachelor's degree in health care administration or nursing, and many people in this role also have a master's degree. In addition to the degree, you may consider working in a variety of related positions like administrative assistant, billing clerk, or medical records specialist to gain work experience.

Sales manager

Median annual salary (US): $127,490 [ 7]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2021 to 2031): 5%

Sales managers supervise the team of sales professionals in an organization. As a sales manager, you can expect to set goals and quotas for individual sales representatives and teams and track their progress. You may be called upon to speak with customers and handle complaints. You may need a bachelor's degree to qualify for this type of position, but sometimes having experience as a sales representative or buyer can be just as important.

Read more: 4 Questions to Ask Before Pursuing a Sales Manager Career

Next steps

Building and expanding your management skills can be helpful no matter where you are in your career. You can explore what managers do through a course like Principles of Management from Johns Hopkins University, available on Coursera. Learn ways to motivate and influence people in the Leading People and Teams Specialization from the University of Michigan or hone in on specific skills by earning the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate offered by Google.

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What Is Management? Definition, Types, Skills, and Careers

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Do you have what it takes to work in management? Find out what managers do within organizations and discover different management styles, job titles, and more.