 Organizing
Meeting organizational goals requires putting the right
MANAGEMENT:
Definition, Types, Skills, and Careers
Management is how businesses organize and direct
workflow, operations, and employees to meet company
goals. The primary goal of management is to create an
environment that empowers employees to work
efficiently and productively. A solid organizational
structure guides employees and establishes the tone
and focus of their work.
Managers are involved in implementing and evaluating
these structures. As a manager, you may be responsible
for doing any of the following tasks:
 Create goals and objectives
 Create schedules
 Develop strategies to increase performance,
productivity, and efficiency
 Ensure compliance with company policies and
industry regulations
 Mentor employees
 Monitor budgets, productivity levels, and
performance
 Resolve customer problems
 Train staff
KEY FUNCTIONS OF A MANAGER
Managers have several functions within an
organization. You'll usually see these functions divided
into four interconnected groups. Understanding them
can help you identify your strengths and areas of need
so that you can choose the proper training to improve
your skills.
 Planning
The first function of a manager is to set goals. These
goals may be for individual employees, departments, or
the entire organization, depending on the manager's
level of responsibility. In addition to setting goals,
managers often develop action items along with
strategies and resources to complete tasks and meet
goals.
people in the right places. Managers can play an
important role in choosing workers for positions and
projects. Knowing how to group people and help them
build relationships often significantly affects how well
the group works together. Sometimes managers need
to train employees for specific tasks to ensure they
have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
 Motivating
Managers help motivate employees to show up and
stay productive. This includes sharing a common
vision, encouraging them to develop their strengths,
and inspiring them to do their best work at all times.
Having effective communication skills is essential for
filling this role.
 Evaluating
Managers typically spend time measuring the success
of their teams and how well they meet goals. The more
they understand what works and doesn't work, the
better prepared they are to make decisions in the
future. Managers must understand and adjust str
ategies to meet company goals.
LEVELS OF MANAGEMENT
In many organizations, management falls into one of
three levels: top, middle, and low. Managers in smaller
companies may fill roles at more than one level, while
larger organizations may have several managers within
each level.
 Top: Top-level management typically has an
administrative role, and their decisions affect
the entire organization even though they
sometimes aren’t involved in the day-to-day
operations. They may have the title of chief
executive officer (CEO) or serve on the board of
directors.
 Middle: You find people with executive roles at
the middle management level. They work with
both top-level management and supervisors to
help workers meet objectives and boost the
company's productivity. At this level, they may
be called regional managers or general
managers.
 Low: The final level of management often has a
supervisory role. These managers have titles
like shift supervisor, branch manager, or team
leader. They work with individuals and teams
to meet goals determined by upper
management. They typically have less influence
over company policy compared to the other
management levels, but the most interaction
with direct reports.
MANAGEMENT STYLES
The way you choose to manage your team or
department can have a direct effect on how they're able
to meet their goals. What you say and do may send
powerful messages to employees about how you value
their contributions and your level of trust in them.
Understanding different management styles and when
they're most and least useful may be helpful. The list
below highlights some of the more common styles used
by managers.
1. Authoritative
Authoritative leaders tend to make decisions without
feedback from others. This approach works well when
you need to respond quickly to a situation and don't
have time for debate. If you rely on this approach too
much, you may see high levels of turnover within the
organization and stalled innovation.
2. Coaching
Some managers view their role as that of a coach who
sees the potential in employees and wants to help them
grow. This can effectively build strong teams and create
an environment where employees feel comfortable
experimenting. Employees typically have a sense of
autonomy under this style, but those needing more
direction may feel neglected.
3. Democratic
Democratic managers value the input of employees in
the decision-making process and usually believe having
more ideas is better than having a few. This
management style may help empower and motivate
employees to work toward common goals. However,
sorting through all of the voices and finding a
consensus to make a decision can take time.
4. Transformational
In a transformational management style, managers
prioritize innovation and growth. These managers
encourage employees to discover just what they're
capable of achieving. Workers with transformational
leaders tend to be happy and dedicated to their work,
but they must be able to adapt to sudden changes.
5. Visionary
A visionary leader knows how to ensure every team
member understands the company's vision and is
working toward a common goal. These leaders tend to
be excellent communicators and typically give workers
plenty of autonomy as long as they effectively execute
the vision.
CAREERS IN MANAGEMENT
Managers work in almost every type of company and
industry. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
expects management positions to grow faster than
average by 2032 as entrepreneurs start new companies
and existing organizations expand their operations [1].
The following management job titles show how varied
these positions can be.
 Advertising, promotions, and marketing
managers
As an advertising, promotions, or marketing manager,
you help companies promote their products and
services through strategic campaigns. You'll typically
need a bachelor's degree in marketing,
communications, or advertising to qualify for this type
of position. Before becoming a manager, you may build
work experience as a sales representative, buyer, or
public relations specialist.
 Construction managers
Construction managers typically divide their time
between the office and a construction site. In this role,
you may set budgets, hire sub-contractors or crew
members, oversee their work, and adjust plans to meet
deadlines. Depending on your employer, you may need
a bachelor's degree in construction, business, or
engineering, along with experience as a skilled worker
or intern in the construction field.
 Financial managers
As a financial manager, you may work in various
environments where you analyze data, create financial
reports, and help individuals or companies set and
meet financial goals. Before pursuing this career, you'll
need a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance,
business, or economics. In some cases, you may want to
earn industry certification as well. You can work your
way up into this role through experience as a loan
officer, an accountant, or similar positions within a
company.
 Food service managers
Food service managers work in restaurants, cafeterias,
and hotels, overseeing kitchen and wait staff. In this
position, you may create schedules, order supplies, and
ensure employees follow food safety guidelines.
Although you can usually enter this field with a high
school diploma or equivalent, you may find it helpful to
earn a degree in hospitality management or culinary
studies. You’ll likely need some experience working in a
restaurant as a cook, waiter, or food prep supervisor.
  Medical and health services managers
As a medical or health services manager, you may work
in a doctor's office, hospital, rehab facility, or similar
environment where you may supervise and coordinate
health care providers and support staff’s work. You'll
need at least a bachelor's degree in health care
administration or nursing, and many people in this role
also have a master's degree. In addition to the degree,
you may consider working in a variety of related
positions like administrative assistant, billing clerk, or
medical records specialist to gain work experience.
 Sales manager
Sales managers supervise the team of sales
professionals in an organization. As a sales manager,
you can expect to set goals and quotas for individual
sales representatives and teams and track their
progress. You may be called upon to speak with
customers and handle complaints. You may need a
bachelor's degree to qualify for this type of position,
but sometimes having experience as a sales
representative or buyer can be just as important.