Top 5 Skills For Being A Great Association Manager

In the current climate with Covid-19 it is more important than ever to be an effective manager. There are so many aspects to being a great manager, and this blog looks at what I believe are the top 5 you need in your managers and to develop in aspiring managers. In true HR style, this is not an exhaustive list!

1. The ability to listen

…….and I mean really listen, not just hear people! This is what is sometimes called active listening, so really paying attention to what people are telling you and just as importantly sometimes what they aren’t telling you. As we all know there is nothing worse than feeling that your opinions don’t count or someone does not care about you, so make sure you learn to listen.

2. Don’t avoid issues

…all too often when we are asked for advice as a HR team on how to manage difficult situations (performance issues, conflict, disciplinary cases) they are problems that could / should have been addressed sooner. Issues that are not tackled and are brushed under the carpet very rarely go away and often reappear 10 times worse; at a point when you cannot ignore them. However, by this point the management of the issue takes much longer and can be a distressing at process for all involved. So, don’t avoid having the difficult conversations.

3. Never stop learning

Most of you have members with CPD requirements and in many cases, you help them to achieve them. Make sure that as a manager, your continuing development is not neglected. Learning allows you to be the best for your team, your organisation and therefore ultimately your members. It can take many forms; MemberWise research reports, a formal qualification (such as our CMI courses), TED talks, podcasts and of course learning from others. Just make sure you never stop!

4. Be able to adapt

This is so relevant at the moment. We have all had to adapt to new ways of working, communicating and managing a crisis. The reason I enjoy working with people so much is that everybody is different. You are never going to get two team members who are the same, so what works well with one individual will be different to another. This applies to so many areas of managing people from what motivates them, their preferred style of communication and how they like to be managed.

5. Be able to make decisions

……and take action! Sometimes as managers we can over think things when we need to make a decision and get moving on the action. Of course, you need to take in to account any risks of any kind and mitigate against these, but also to stay away from analysis paralysis – sometimes your gut reaction is the right one.