Being a business owner is not just about supervising people well and ‘envisioning’ a bright future for the company. Now, even the middle management of the company has to acquire several unique and useful skills that could drive company growth and revenue. What are these skills and how could they help you in advancing your management career? Read below.

Emotional intelligence

Are you a part of the management hierarchy in any organization? The most important skill you are expected to master is emotional intelligence. You will likely have to tackle several people throughout the day- helping them perform their best. If you are not an emotionally intelligent manager, employees will quickly shift jobs.

Always remember, employees don’t quit companies, they always quit their manager. The ability to understand people around you, whether peers or subordinates, will help you in excelling at your job. The higher up you go in the hierarchy, the more EI is expected of you.

Networking

This is another important skill that managers should be equipped with. Gone are the days when networking was limited to sales professionals. In these dynamic times, every manager must be able to network with people, inside and outside his company.

You should always have connections and a sphere of influence. This helps in forwarding your career and enhances your current prospects as well. Remember, successful managers are always well-connected managers. So, don’t remain inside your cabin. Get out and network with people.

Strategic thinking

Do you just focus on completing the task at hand? Are you consistently worried about what will happen next? You may be lacking a crucial management skill- strategic thinking. This skill cannot be taught in any B-school. You develop it with time. Any manager who doesn’t think long term will turn to be a liability for his own company.

Communication

Another key skill that differentiates a good manager from an employee is his communication skill. A manager has to be proficient in two-way communication and use feedback loops to create positive effect on the employees. Most managers act as bridges between the head honchos of an organization and the employees. Good communication skills can nip the problems in their bud and help avoid sticky situations. If you know how to communicate well, you are already on your way to success.

Negotiation

Problems arise at work all the time. Sometimes these problems are related to clients and sometimes with employees. As a successful manager, you should have great negotiation skills. You should know how to diffuse an aggressive situation and turn to calm-headed solutions at all times. You should not be directed by your emotions, but by your practical and level-headed managerial skills. Negotiations are often tough and sometimes frustrating. If you can handle negotiations well, there is nothing that can stop you from moving up the corporate ladder.

Do you have all these skills? Start polishing your management skills and become a great asset for your company. Remember, a manager’s job is let the company’s processes move smoothly. The more skills you have, the better your performance rating will be.