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4 Soft Skills Every Manager Needs to Succeed

Managers require a unique set of skills to be successful. They need technical (or hard) skills like industry knowledge and knowledge of organizational processes. But, they also need some specific soft skills that aren’t always so obvious. Here are four of the most important soft skills to look for when hiring for a management position.

1. Communication

This is arguably the most critical soft skill pound-for-pound. A manager needs to be able to effectively communicate with their employees and co-workers, as well as customers. Sound communication means they’re able to express their ideas and be understood by the people they’re in contact with every day. Along with the speaking, a manager must also be able to listen to others, and embrace feedback.

 2. Confidence

Former columnist for Inc.com Fransisco Dao explains, “Self-confidence is the fundamental basis from which leadership grows. Trying to teach leadership without first building confidence is like building a house on a foundation of sand.” In other words, it’s nearly impossible to thrive in this type of position without a certain level of confidence. Having confidence is what makes employees “buy in” and trust in a manager’s abilities.

 3. Motivation 

If a manager doesn’t have the motivation to keep your business productive and complete projects on time, who will? You’ll usually find their attitude is contagious. If they bring a lot of enthusiasm to the job, it will rub off on others, and your other employees will want to put forth more effort. However, the opposite is also true, and a lack of motivation can be toxic to your workplace.

 4. Adaptability

Finally, a manager needs to be able to handle whatever curveballs come their way and be flexible enough to overcome them. Adaptability is crucial, and they should have a “bend not break” mentality. For example, a key employee called out sick and you were short on manpower. A manager would need to be able to quickly come up with a solution and temporarily switch up your other employees’ current roles to account for the loss.

A lot goes into successful management that transcends just technical skills. Keeping an eye out for individuals who possess these specific soft skills should ensure that you select the right managers.

 Need help with your recruiting? Get in touch with the experts at Axiom Staffing Group today.

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