While earning an MBA can be of immense value, there are important management skills they don’t teach you in business school! Learning business fundamentals like accounting, finance, and marketing is important. However, there are vital “soft” skills that every leader needs to be successful.
Emotional Intelligence
Great managers need both analytical and emotional skills. What they don’t teach you in business school is that 71% of employers value emotional intelligence in an employee over a high IQ. Leaders with emotional intelligence are able to manage their own emotions, communicate effectively, and understand the feelings and psychological states of others. These skills help leaders make better decisions, resolve conflicts in the workplace and foster a positive work environment.
Change Management
Change is inevitable in any successful business. A degree may prepare you to recognize the need for change and determine a course of action. However, what they don’t teach you in business school is how to prepare your team. Because of this, about 70% of all change initiatives fail. Managers play a critical role in the change process. During times of change, leaders must recognize the impact changes have on their team, identify resistance to change and effectively address that resistance.
How to Influence and Inspire Others
One of the most important skills a leader can have is the ability to influence and inspire others. Developing skills in strategic storytelling, enhancing leadership presence, and overcoming objections to align teams toward a common goal will accelerate the success of any leader. Some people mistake these skills for personality traits. However, anyone can learn strategies and behaviors that will increase their ability to influence others and inspire teams to achieve success.
How to Manage a Diverse Workforce
One of the most important things you don’t learn in business school is how to manage different personality styles across multiple generations and personal backgrounds. Today’s leaders must be aware of unconscious biases and how they affect team performance. They will also need the skills to navigate the complexity of managing employees from four very different generations.
Do Your Managers Need to Develop Skills They Don’t Teach in Business School?
Lifelong learning benefits every leader. If your team lacks these essential leadership skills, you may consider enrolling them in Crestcom’s interactive management training program. Crestcom’s 12-month format creates a deep understanding of management skills, produces positive and lasting change, and connects with other professionals to share ideas and perspectives.
