Think of any successful business. What you see behind the face of achievement is a hard-working team using well-developed structures to ensure the most efficient and favourable results possible. All the cogs are in place, tasks are running smoothly, and the system is sustainable.
Business management exists to keep the cogs running or to adjust when one falls out of place. It is a field which is fundamental to the success of a well-run business.
What is business management?
Business management is related to the operation of all administration within an organisation or corporation. The tasks within the role include strategising, giving support to team members, ensuring the goals set out are accomplished, and looking after resources.
Essentially, a business manager is the individual who is tasked with running a business. While it might sound simple in principle, it is an enormous task and involves a huge amount of planning, monitoring, and consistent supervising.
It also should be noted that a good business manager does not personally involve themselves in every matter in the business, but rather delegates to trusted members to look after smaller tasks.
What are the benefits of business management?
Managing a business has a certain appeal to it. Not only do you get to put “Business Manager” on your business card in a fancy font, but you also get to boast other benefits which only managing a business brings.
These are:
- Having a clear overview of running a business;
- Fully comprehending the value of a team member;
- Learning more-rounded approaches to managing people;
- Developing communication skills that you’d never have before; and
- Constantly learning on the job.
It gives you a clear overview of a business
If we narrow in to look at individuals tasks performed in business: When performing a task, you need to know the ins-and-outs of it before tackling it. If you are delegating that task to a team member, you still need to understand the basics before explaining it to the person who will be performing it.
Now, if we zoom out to all business operations: Since the manager will know the basics of most tasks being performed they will, therefore, have a basic understanding of the business as a whole and will have a well-rounded knowledge of the business.
You comprehend the value of a team member
If you have to lead people, you need to know what you are asking of them. When you lead well, you will know how to gain the most productive and efficient work out of a happy team member, while knowing what they putting in.
If you understand how important your team is, you gain an understanding of the value of each worker which will help teach you to appreciate, support and encourage them. It also means that if you have to perform the task yourself, you will be able to appreciate the weight of it in the business operations.
You learn new approaches to management
There are five different leadership styles in business management. If you are able to adapt your style to the business you are leading, you are well on your way to passively developing new leadership skills. This is beneficial to both you (as it teaches you new ways to effectively support individuals in their tasks) and your team (as they will be supported and encouraged in ways which bring out their best).
You develop communication skills
In leadership, “communication is key” cannot be stressed enough. If a team member feels comfortable in approaching their manager, they will excel at performing their tasks with confidence.
Although a person can be born with communication skills, the ability is more often learnt through good practice and consistent use. Developing communication skills in order to explain and relay information and accept and process feedback is crucial in business management, but it takes time to learn. This skill is remarkably beneficial because it can be implemented in all areas of life, even outside of the business.
You constantly learn on the job
Similar to learning communication skills through practice, there are a number of business traits which can be learnt on the job. In order to lead people, you first and foremost need to be able to lead yourself. Any self-learning is heightened while leading other people, so the experience you gain in leadership will enhance the lessons you learn.
Why do a short course in business management?
If you’ve completed a business management short course you will have gained insight into what goes into managing a business. This includes:
- An understanding of the different approaches of leadership and management;
- Getting to grips with important financial concepts and how the economy relates to the business environment;
- The nature of marketing and how it is used to accomplish objectives; and
- Entrepreneurship and how to be excellent at starting and managing your very own business
All of these skills can be theoretically taught and practically implemented in order to take advantage of the benefits business management offers.
