The Roles of Managers

The material is taken from the learning of AMA courses, like this piece that lists the eight primary responsibilities of a manager. In the race to get work done, don’t forget these important eight responsibilities:

1. Leader. Leaders adopt a big-picture view and consider day-to-day requirements in terms of mission and goals. They determine where the organization needs to go and then move forward by thinking strategically about the directions they need to take. They need to have persuasive abilities to help the organization realize their vision. They also form relationships beyond the organization and maintain its reputation.
2. Director. Directors define a problem and take the initiative to determine a solution. Using planning and goal-setting skills, the director determines what to delegate and ensures that other individuals understand their scope of work, specific tasks, and challenges.
3. Contributor. Contributors focus on tasks and work, ensuring they are personally productive, in addition to motivating others to ensure the organization’s productivity hits its highest potential.
4. Coach. Coaches develop people through a caring, empathetic orientation that includes being supportive, considerate, sensitive, approachable, open, and fair.
5. Facilitator. Facilitators foster a collective effort for the organization, building cohesion and teamwork and managing interpersonal conflict.
6. Observer. Observers stay attentive to actions and relationships around them, determining whether people are meeting their objectives and watching to see that the unit meets its goals. Observers also have responsibility for understanding what is important for the team to know and averting information overload.
7. Innovator. Innovators facilitate adaptation and change, paying attention to the changing environment, identifying trends impacting the organization, and then determining changes needed for the organization’s success.
8. Organizer. Organizers take responsibility for planning work, as well as organizing tasks and structures. They then follow up to ensure tasks are completed by attending to technological needs, staff coordination, and crisis handling. .

Excerpted, with permission of the publisher, from AMA Business Boot Camp: Management and Leadership Fundamentals That Will See You Successfully Through Your Career, edited by Edward T. Reilly. Copyright 2013, American Management Association. Published by AMACOM. For more information, visit: amacombooks.org