Managerial Skills

To help answer the question about pay differences between managers and other employees, read this section. Managers have to have many skills that put them at the top of the pay scale, including problem-solving skills the average worker doesn't need.

Time-Management Skills

Managers face multiple demands on their time, and their days are usually filled with interruptions. Ironically, some technologies that were supposed to save time, such as voicemail and e-mail, have actually increased workloads. Unless you develop certain time-management skills, you risk reaching the end of the day feeling that you've worked a lot but accomplished little. What can managers do to ease the burden? Here are a few common-sense suggestions:

Prioritize tasks, focusing on the most important things first.
Set aside a certain time each day to return phone calls and answer e-mail.
Delegate routine tasks.
Don't procrastinate.
Insist that meetings start and end on time, and stick to an agenda.
Eliminate unnecessary paperwork.