What Makes An Effective Manager?

6 Pages 1516 Words

Most generally speaking, an effective manager pays attention to very many facets of management, leadership and learning within organizations. So, it is difficult to take the topic of “effective managers” and say that the following five, ten or fifteen items are the most important ones. There is no formula for “what makes an effective manager” but it is possible to identify the factors that make management better or worse.
Thus, I will start the analysis of the topic “what makes an effective manager” by defining the meaning of the word “manager” and then I will discuss the basic managerial aspects.
There are many definitions of the term “manager”. I have chosen two:
“Managers are those people given official responsibility for ensuring that the tasks undertaken in the organization’s name are done in a way which enables the organization to continue into the future”. Tony J. Watson (2004) Organizing and Managing Work
“A manager is a person who allocates human and material resources and directs the operations of a department or an entire organization.” Hellriegel, D. & Slocum, J. (1996) Management (7th Ed)
Both definitions imply that the good manager should by all means have a global view and understanding of his organization’s goals and at the same time be capable of determining and planning the most efficient way to achieve these goals. How? – by enabling people to their jobs in the best possible way. Managers achieve these organization’s goals by arranging for others to work, therefore management involves planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. These are the four so-called basic managerial functions.
“If you ask a manager what he does, he will most likely tell you that he plans, organizes, coordinates and controls. Then watch what he does. Don’t be surprised if you can’t relate what you see to these four words.” Henry Mintzberg, “The manager’s Job: Folklore and Fact, “Harva...