Drive to Thrive

Managers need multiple abilities and skills.

Managers provide guidelines, direct their teams to be productive and meet their organization’s short-term and long-term goals. They coordinate, plan, organize and run teams in departments as varied as human resources, finance, production and sales.

Team members see their managers as people with heavy responsibilities and notable power, and that is a correct assessment. Employees, teams, higher-up executives and their organizations all depend on skilled managers.

Successful managers need knowledge and expertise. They must be organized, empathetic and able to communicate well, negotiate successfully and make sound decisions. They must manage office relationships, set priorities, and direct, monitor and assess team activities. Managers need strong emotional intelligence so they can understand what’s going on with their team members – and adjust their management style and actions accordingly. They also must establish a positive, safe working environment, all while handling their own stress and remaining productive.

Managers must help people ...