There are a few different manager qualifications that are required of most people who desire to be promoted into an upper-level, managerial role. Though professional skills and extensive knowledge of the job and company are very important, they do not represent all necessary qualifications. A good manager is someone with excellent communication skills, the ability to effectively lead others, and high levels of integrity. Additional important manager qualifications include the ability to delegate projects to other people, and to maintain a high level of integrity and honesty in all situations, which will also help the individual to earn respect from other employees.
It is hard to say which manager qualifications are more important than others; they are all necessary and equally important. At a basic level, though, anyone who wants to become a manager needs to have mastered the job, worked in different areas in the company, and typically put in quite a few years of experience in the specific field. In some fields of work, a college education or higher, such as a master's degree, might be required in order to become a manager. In other careers, years of on-the-job work experience are all that is necessary to be promoted into a managerial role. Managers are also typically expected to understand the finances of the company, operations, administration, and human resources.
Professional competence is a big part of manager qualifications, but personality and leadership style are another huge aspect. It is necessary for a manager to have an effective leadership style when working with other people and leading a team. Generally, this is a combination of providing specific instruction, tasks and training to his or her employees, combined with the ability to develop positive, friendly relationships with employees, and support them in their work. Avoiding micromanaging employees, and successfully delegating work, are other important keys to success as a manager.
In addition to leadership style, other important manager qualifications are more specifically related to personality and relationship skills. It is important for anyone in a supervisory or managerial role to be an excellent and clear communicator, and to remain calm and level-headed in stressful situations. A manager should also behave ethically, with honesty, and always treat the employees fairly. A good manager should be able to find a balance between accomplishing the goals of the company and seeing the big picture, and ensuring that employees feel valued for their work and individual accomplishments.
