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What You Need To Understand About Management
If you are in a profession chances are the only way to get beyond a certain level is to take on a management role.
Trouble is when professionals take that step into management the level of success is highly variable.
So what do you need to understand about management if you are to be successful?
The role is different
You probably knew that. On the other hand what I’ve noticed among accountants and professionals is that while they understand that it’s a different role, they don’t change their approach to their work.
They still think they can do all the stuff they did previously and just fit management in.
You have to manage up, down and across
By that I mean you have to manage your boss, manage your team and hardest of all manage your peers (those at a similar level to you).
You don’t know it all
The best managers don’t pretend they know it all.
Instead they hire and bring in people with complimentary skills and qualities.
You can often be the block to making things happen
Especially if you are the type of manager who has to cast an eye over or approve everything.
Avoid this by delegating and trusting others.
You can end up solving everyone’s problems
After a while people stop thinking for themselves and just bring problems to you.
Rather than allowing this to happen use questions to get people to think through their own problems and come to a solution.
People are individual
As a result a one size fits all approach never works. You have to understand each person’s drivers and preferences.
You learn a lot through your mistakes
Harsh but true in my experience.
So don’t view mistakes negatively but as part and parcel of becoming a better manager.
What management challenges are you facing at the moment?
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.