It's no secret that business owners need many different skills to succeed: they're responsible for everything from making strategic decisions to making sure the water bill is paid on time. But amid the daily bustle, one important skill is at risk of being overlooked: management.
Why Does Management Matter?
Good management is essential for small business survival, but many entrepreneurs might not have strong management skills. Management skills are often learned on the job and are "understudied and undertaught" compared to leadership skills, largely because it can be difficult to describe what managers do on a day-to-day basis.
In addition to writing job descriptions and recruiting candidates, entrepreneurs need do a variety of managerial tasks like figuring out how to give productive feedback to your employees and creating a healthy workplace environment. Because of this, entrepreneurs who successfully launch their product or service can struggle when their employee count begins to grow.
Support for Managers
For those interested in brushing up on their managerial skills, we have good news – you’re not alone! There are a variety of resources designed to support BC entrepreneurs who want to bolster their managerial skills, covering everything from the basics to high-level concepts.
On the Web
Canada Business Network, a government information service for businesses and start-up entrepreneurs across Canada, and WorkBC, the provincial government organization that helps employers and employees navigate BC’s labour market, both offer a wealth of relevant online resources for entrepreneurs-turned-managers.
Canada Business Network highlights include a list of questions to ask yourself to see if you are ready to take on employees and a comprehensive handbook that covers your obligations and opportunities when it comes to hiring employees, as well as tools for streamlining human resources administration. Work BC has outstanding information on how to ensure workplace health and safety and how to strengthen your business by hiring from a diverse population.
Classes
Many institutions across BC offer classes, certificate programs, and diplomas in small business management. On EducationPlannerBC, you can search for programs by subject area, program length, and geographic location.
If you don’t have the time or resources to attend to in-person classes, Lynda.com, a subscription-based online learning platform that is accessible through many public libraries, offers a series of courses that cover how to manage people and projects effectively.
Books
Management is a growing field of study, and as a result there are many great books about management out there. We recommend checking out First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently from Gallup Press and Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow of Talent by Sydney Finkelstein - two of our recent #sbalibrary Summer Reading Challenge picks. And of course, your local public or academic library can give you tailored recommendations to meet your specific needs.
PHOTO CREDIT: wocintechchat.com