How to increase business management skills

Poor management is the greatest single cause of business failure. Management of a business involves a number of activities such as planning, organizing, directing, and communicating. Most business failures aren't just because of bad economic times, but stem from improper management. Some common mistakes made by managers are hiring the wrong people, inadequate employee training, and misuse of time.

Whether the times are good or bad, a successful manager remains calm, confident, and focused. You must be a leader with the ability to stay motivated while creating a work atmosphere that encourages productivity. There are ten things that can be done to help you increase your business management skills:

Hiring competent people. Give yourself a better chance of success as a manager by hiring people that are competent and able to perform job tasks. Keep in mind, as a manager you are only as good as the people on your team.

Be a motivator. Keeping your employees motivated and focused on job tasks and responsibilities can be a challenge. A successful manager will use positive reinforcements along with a reward system to compensate employees for their hard work and dedication.

Building a productive and efficient team. It is not enough to just motivate employees to succeed at work. They have to learn to work together as a team to reach goals and objectives. Having employees that work well independently is nowhere near as productive for a business as having a highly skilled team that is capable of working together.

Not only be a manager but a leader as well. Having the best team of employees, who are motivated, is worthless unless you provide direction. Having the ability to keep your team motivated while leading them toward a goal is truly what sets apart a successful manager from their peers.

Improve your communication skills. Communication may be one of the most important skills a successful manager possesses. If you are not able to communicate to your team of employees your goals and objectives, how can you motivate and encourage your employees to reach their full potential?Communication skills can be improved through practice. Practice your communication skills when ever you are given the opportunity.

Better your money management skills. A company has to make money to stay in business. Improving your money management skills can help your company, your employees and yourself.

Manage your time better. The better you are at managing your time and your employee's time, the more effective you will be as a manager. Proper time management skills will help to increase productivity and improve your company's bottom line.

Improve yourself. Don't focus so much on your employees that you forget about yourself. Identify areas in which you feel need improvement and take the proper steps to achieve improvement.

Practice ethical management. Treat employees the same no matter their race, religion, gender, size, age, or country of origin. Implement policies and procedures so employees feel that they are treated fairly and equally. Treating employees differently can constitute harassment or a hostile work environment.

Don't forget to take a break. You are less effective as a manager if your are over-stressed and over-worked. Give yourself a chance to relax. Your increased productivity after taking a break will more than make up for the time you take off.

Managing employees and watching them grow can be a challenging experience, but also a very rewarding experience. Use the experiences you will have as a manager as tools to help you improve and grow in your professional life as well as your personal. And remember there is always room to improve.