Management is a broad discipline, but certain core competencies consistently underpin great leadership. Whether you’re new to management or an experienced hand, strengthening these skills can make the difference between merely functioning and truly excelling.
First and foremost, communication is king. Managers must be able to clearly articulate goals, provide feedback, and inspire their teams. This isn’t just about formal announcements or structured meetings – it’s also about informal conversations, active listening, and picking up on non-verbal cues. People want to feel heard as well as informed.
Emotional intelligence is closely linked. Being able to manage your own emotions and respond thoughtfully to others’ feelings can diffuse tension, build trust, and foster a supportive team environment. Managers who ignore the emotional climate of their teams risk disengagement and resentment brewing under the surface. A third of UK employees have experienced a “toxic manager” (e.g. micromanagement, inflexibility, intimidation), and that nearly half of workers say empathy and mental health support are crucial for job satisfaction.
Time management is another critical competency. With competing priorities and constant demands, managers must prioritise effectively and avoid becoming bottlenecks. Learning to distinguish between urgent and important tasks – and teaching your team to do the same – can drastically improve collective productivity.
Quick tip: Use a simple tool like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorise tasks into ‘urgent and important’, ‘important but not urgent’, ‘urgent but not important’, and ‘neither’. Focus energy where it counts – and share this approach with your team to boost everyone’s effectiveness.
Delegation goes hand-in-hand with time management. Many managers struggle with it initially, believing they must control every detail to guarantee success. In reality, holding onto work limits both personal growth and team development. However, managers are still required to exercise oversight on key decisions. Emmett Shear, former CEO of Twitch, reflected recently that although delegating to experts was initially helpful, he swung too far and became less effective because he stopped exercising oversight on key decisions. Effective delegation means trusting your team members, providing clear instructions, and allowing them ownership of tasks.
Strategic thinking is another vital skill. Managers don’t operate in isolation – their decisions should align with the organisation’s wider goals. A recent survey found that 72% of senior IT leaders in UK organisations reported serious disruption in the past year due to resilience or continuity failures, yet only a minority felt strongly confident in their disaster recovery or business continuity plans. Understanding the broader business context helps managers motivate their teams by showing how their work contributes to the bigger picture.
Finally, resilience rounds out the list. Setbacks are inevitable, whether it’s a missed target, a failed project, or a sudden organisational change. Managers who bounce back quickly, model a positive attitude, and maintain momentum help their teams do the same. In the American Express Business Barometer, 68% of UK SME leaders say they feel resilient despite external disruptions. The same report found 71% expect business growth over the next year, and many credit their resilience to learning from past challenges etc.
Keep in mind: Building these competencies isn’t a one-off event. Continuous improvement, seeking feedback, and investing in professional development are part of the journey to becoming a truly great manager.
Remember: Mastering the fundamentals creates a strong foundation – everything else you do as a manager builds from there.
Contact us today on 01582 463460 to learn more about our management development programmes – we’re always happy to help. Also, remember to look at the course outline for ‘Management Essentials’.
Author: Helen Blythe
