by Amon Karagara

Created on: February 27, 2009

So you have been working your way up the company ladder, until you land on that management position you have always wished for. You are very confident that you will do a great job, but a month or so down the road, you realize it was not as easy as you thought.

Well, you are not the only one. Most people have failed to succeed as managers, simply because they lack what it takes to be in that position.

The following are the most common qualities of a successful manager:

Communication. A successful manager must be an effective communicator, both orally and in written form. He/she must be a good public speaker, who portrays confidence and professionalism while speaking to employees as well as clients and customers.

Interpersonal skills. You cannot be a good manager if you don't know how to handle people. From employees, to clients, vendors, etc, a successful manager knows how to stay on top of his game when it comes to interacting with each and every individual. He knows the value of respect and reputation in an organization. If you are not good at dealing with people, a management position is not for you.

Strong degree of independence and knowledge of what is going on. A successful manager is not someone who will go to his boss all the time to seek guidance. He must be knowledgeable of what he is doing, what the goals and objectives of the organization are, and work with his team to achieve them, on his own. This way, he will be well equipped to train his subordinates and pass on well-informed instructions, other than beating around the bush or running to his boss every time.

Honesty and responsibility. Your superiors should trust that whatever you are doing is in the best interest of the company, and not for purposes of personal gain or otherwise. At the same time, your subordinates should trust your actions and words. You should be honest while executing your job, treat people impartially, and take responsibility for your mistakes. They should also depend and count on you as your manager, whenever the need arises.

Stress management. Management involves a lot of stress, and this can be almost on a daily basis. A good manager must be in position to withstand all this. He/she must remain grounded and firm, while keeping calm in handling situations. Most managers fail because they don't know how to manage stress without blowing off their heads.

Team building. Employees perform better when they work together as a team. And since an organization's success depends on employees' performance, a great manager is one who can perform better on building a strong team. While things may not always be merry at work, it is the duty of the manager to ensure that at least for the most part, there is a strong feeling of togetherness in the work place.

A successful manager should be a good leader. You can be a great leader without being a great manager. However in order to succeed in management, you must be a great leader. You should be able to combine all the other qualities of good management with some leadership traits, such as the ability to motivate your employees, resolve conflict, make sound decisions, listen to your employees, etc.

Practicing the above and more can ultimately lead to the success of a great manager.

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