by Ronald Manalastas

Created on: June 24, 2008   Last Updated: June 28, 2008

There is no set of qualities that can universally describe a "successful manager." It is easier said than done. Based on my 25-year management experience, the determination of these qualities is practically situational. The set of winning qualities varies, and usually influenced by the culture or compelling priorities of an organization where the manager is attached and rated.

Difficult as it may seem, we can, however, consider key prescriptive qualities of a successful manager, attributes that tend to have great "survival significance" across industries and organizations in today's complex and fast changing world.

When assuming any management post, it is best to be guided by the following contemporary
definition:

"A successful manager is a person who consistently pursues and achieves, through people, the vision, mission, objective, strategies, and operational targets of the organization, all in the context of serving and delighting the customer."

Using this definition as a backdrop, the prescriptive qualities of a successful manager require his possession of both the "hard" and "soft" skills demanded by a managerial function, which are as follows:

A. Hard Skills

1. Functional Knowledge: He has adequate skills for the job.

First and foremost, a manager must have relevant, updated, and competitive knowledge about the discipline in which he is assigned. The point here is: a manager must possess at least the minimum essentials of the technical skills specifically required by his function. He need not be a specialist in the job, but he must demonstrate clear understanding and working knowledge of the nature and scope of his function to render good managerial value.

A non-technical human resources manager cannot be expected to deliver full value when made to handle a technology-based, software application managerial job. A manager holed in this kind of mismatch is bound to fast reach his level of incompetence (Peter's Principle).

2. Systems Knowledge: He knows the ins and outs.

A manager is quality-driven. He knows both the company's and the customer's processes by heart. He shuns errors and mistakes as he strives to make it right at the first time. He is aware of the bottom-line significance of correct processes and methodical rendition of his function. A manager's organizational skills encompass the way he orchestrates resources, people, systems, strategies, and financials in favor of desired results and efficiency.

He is updated with evolving technology and logistics disciplines

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