Manager Weakness: Key Issues & New Essentials

Here are some of the key qualities that take a manager from just a 'supervisor with keys' to someone with a bright future. here are 8 more priorities to consider:

They are Opportunistic: it's an attitude - good managers love to find a way to make more sales, get a better price or a improve business efficiency. They move quickly, and have a competitive spirit.

• Trouble-Shooter: they can find the root cause of a problem and how to fix it. Sometimes it's with people, other times with equipment, suppliers or changing market conditions. Either way, a smart manager gets the job done rather than just makes excuses or hides the issue.
  
• Handle Staff Problems With Courage and Skill: when it's time for the 'big talk', the best managers know how to do this discreetly, clearly and in a way that gets results. Sometimes you actually want a staff member to leave, other times to change the way they talk, look, perform or relate to others. There's often an element of coaching, and a need for self-confidence and people skills. 
  
• Build a Positive Relationship with Suppliers: too many managers have been beaten into chasing nothing but cheap prices, and they miss out on better products or long-term advantages. Their negotiation skills are usually limited to tourist bargaining - 'that's too much!!'. 
  
• Develop Positive Facebook and Social Media Activities: I see way too many examples of this important marketing activity left to someone without marketing experience. A modern manager should be able to post a photo, briefly describe a funny or touching event, share a new dish or cocktail and keep the online conversation flowing. Sure, this may be done by others under their supervision, but they know the territory. We all need to develop our 'online writing voice', and that doesn't just mean OMG and LOL!
  
• Keep up with new Online Services: don't say 'Foursquare and Twitter, WTF?!' Best way to stay on top is to start using these services as a consumer, so you're familiar with the territory. Then you'll see what's possible in your business and won't be bamboozled by the smart young dudes on your staff. 
  
• Make Smart Use of a Smart Phone: if it hasn't happened, upgrade to an iPhone, Blackberry or Android and learn to take and send photos, access email and use Apps for tracking weather, rosters, news and industry information. It's all part of your modern toolkit (and you also be checking the possibilities for an iPad as well...)
  
• Maintain an appropriate Online Profile: the Facebook presence is clean and positive, a LinkedIn profile shows your experience and success, and a regular Google check shows that the information appearing is positive, not worrying. And if nothing comes up, that could also be a concern!