Oh yes, I AM the Manager.

My colleague who after many years away from text books and lecture halls has recently started studying again. She’s doing a Management Development course at a local University.

About 2 years ago, I too did a Management Development course at a Business School in the city. I never really thought about management, being a manager or wanting to become one but as luck would have it I became a manager, a team leader, a supervisor and a department head by default almost. This, for a company that I joined nearly 10 years ago as a temp doing a 4 month assignment. The reason I was hired in the first place, the role I filled 10 years ago is so much different from what I am doing right now. I am not sure if I should be proud of my achievement or just be thankful for the luck. Was it luck or am I actually a good manager? Do I deserve the role I play; do I fill the shoes well enough?

I suppose these questions are best answered by the people I lead. However, without asking them, by just observing them, they seem happy. At the end of the day, I think I did what I set out to do and I think I’m not half bad hehehehe.

Anyway, the 2 questions my colleague had to answer for her assignment were:

Interview a manager from a South African organization and ask:

1. How she performs each of the functions of management, the roles she plays and the skills necessary to do the job?

2. What challenges does the manager face and how does she attempt to overcome these challenges?

If you're know me you'll know that I'm very modest and would never give an elaborate off-showee answer. I don't ever let my title or position go to my head. I also believe humility is one of the best qualities a leader and a person in general should have so here goes my simple, typed in one go answers.

I am responsible for my team and I am responsible for the results of my department. No day is exactly the same. 

There’s daily tasks of ORGANIZING – making sure each staff-member is ready and able to do whatever is at hand and has all the required resources in place to carry out the job effectively; STAFFING – making sure that lunch times don’t coincide, that there’s always staff available to our clients throughout the day and organize and plan future leave and additional training when required; DIRECTING – staff need guidance, direction, motivation, leadership and support throughout the day. The aim is not to rule with an iron-fist but to motivate in a holistic way, inspiring them to work jointly towards a common goal or to stimulate a struggling team member on an individual basis; COMMUNICATION – I listen to my team in order to provide feedback to my own managers and I also am the messenger and interpreter of news and information from above and lastly I have to balance all of these skills in order to CONTROL the daily operations of my team to ensure the desired goals are reached. This is done by means of measuring progress, recording and analysing activities and writing reports. 

Some people are natural leaders and managers but the skills can be learnt. The skills required are good communication and listening skills; empathy and ability to identify with your team and clients; a good problem solver and excellent administrative skills. 

One of the biggest challenges manager’s face is trust, trust from your team is not easy to earn especially for a new manager in an old team. I am thankful that I have a very good relationship with my team, trust, togetherness and teamwork has not been an issue for me but I realize it’s not easy to achieve.   

The second challenge is the diversity. We work with different people from all walks of life and everyday may not be a good day for everyone. Sometimes you have to find ways to deal with an individual’s emotions and moods in order to not bring the team spirit down so you have to find a way to always bring out the best in your team and it's members, this is something that takes some time to learn and master.

I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team,
I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team,
not the individual, is the ultimate champion.
~ Mia Hamm