by D. P. Noe

Created on: October 30, 2009   Last Updated: October 31, 2009

Managers come in all shape and sizes. They come from all different backgrounds, but there are common threads that all successful managers possess. There are qualities that every successful manager learns to utilize to the best of their ability. They are not afraid to take risks and are always looking over their shoulders to improve their working environment.

Successful managers are excellent problem solvers. They understand how to focus on what is critical to a situation, using the most accurate information that is available. They are pragmatic and focus on useful information that will get to a solution and not focus on the information that will not help to get a final solution. They understand where to start and not reinvent the wheel and spend time on things that have already been effective.

Successful managers are excellent critical thinkers. They possess the ability to be objective and analyze problems, evaluate the possibilities and what the outcome will be. They are excellent abstract thinkers and have the innate ability to look at abstract ideas and take all the information like pieces of a puzzle and put them together to form a picture.They are open to new ideas and actively listen to new ideas with curiosity and weigh the possibilities of other individuals input.

Successful managers understand that before you can make any decisions, you must have your goals clearly defined. Whenever they make a decision they must believe they have made the best decision. They must always incorporate if that decision will get commitment and buy in from the people they work with, even when they have not been involved in the actual decision making process.

Managers need to make timely decisions, because if they do not, they will miss deadlines. This can cost an organization money and waste resources. Other people in the organization will become frustrated because they will feel that they cannot count on the manager. A manager should always identify how urgent a situation or problem is and set attainable deadlines. Prioritize is the name of the game to learn to spend time on what needs to be done.

They understand the importance of staying ahead of the competition. The competitors are not standing still and waiting. The manager should be well versed about their competition and any vulnerability their organization has. If a manger can increase their organization value by distinguishing the organization from the competitors, they have a valuable tool to stay ahead of the

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