Management Skills Different management styles draw more on some skills than others. For instance, - What style might managers with good people skills adopt? - What style might managers with good decision making skills use? What management skills will we focus on? - Communication Negotiation Time Management Delegation Decision Making and Problem Solving People skills Thank United College for invitation to present our views on middle years of schooling approaches and strategies Request that any questions for the group be raised at the end of the presentation given the restricted time limit on the presentation

Communication “A two way process of sending and receiving information.” Why is it important? To disseminate information To maintain good personal working relationships What types of communication are there? One-to-one personal communication Written communication Committees Conferences Networks What prevents effective communication? How can we improve communication in the workplace?

Negotiation “The ability to discuss and come to an agreement over conflict issues.” What does negotiation involve? Discussion Bargaining What skills are involved in negotiation? An ability to: Set the right atmosphere Express one’s thoughts on the issue Assess different positions and interpretations of the issue Deal with conflict and stress Know how and when to compromise Follow up on what has been agreed

Time Management “The ability to prioritise tasks so that work is completed efficiently and effectively.” What does time management involve? Setting out goals/tasks to be achieved Delegating tasks Establishing priorities for tasks Allocating time to tasks Establishing deadlines Reviewing your timelines for tasks What prevents effective time management? What are ‘time-wasters’?

Delegation “Passing authority or specific tasks to more junior staff members.” What does delegation involve? Analysing the task to be delegated Setting performance standards, deadlines and checkpoints Selecting appropriate people to delegate tasks to Communicating the task to be delegated Assessing the delegated task once completed What are the benefits of delegation? It ensures work is able to continue when managers are away. It frees up management time for higher level decision making and planning. It contributes to employee skill development and job satisfaction.

Decision making and problem solving “The ability to select the best course of action from a range of options.” What is involved in decision-making? Define the objective Outline the facts Decide on the cause(s) of the problem Develop several solutions Select the preferred alternative and implement it Evaluate the effectiveness of the solution What is needed for effective decision-making? Good communication Timing Flexibility Personal qualities, e.g. experience, instinct

People Skills (Also known as ‘Soft Skills’) “The ability to empathise and interact positively with staff.” What skills do managers with good people skills exhibit? Compassion (i.e. an ability to think about another’s position) Self restraint (i.e. a hold on their emotional reactions) How do people skills benefit an organisation? Improved teamwork Reduced levels of stress Heightened motivation to achieve objectives