Last updated on March 21st, 2024 at 09:11 am
For a business to grow, it needs to have watertight processes and teams that function seamlessly towards common goals. However, that’s easier said than done– the numerous departments, teams, and procedures are entangled in a complex web that only an expert can navigate. This is where a business manager comes in.
Who is a business manager?
A business manager is essential to the smooth functioning of any organization. A business management career involves supervising and leading a company’s operations and sets of employees.
It requires designing and implementing business strategies, maximizing employee productivity and identifying opportunities for business growth. In short, it’s an all-hands-on-deck career path. Here is a comprehensive guide to paving a business management career path for yourself:
- Education
To become a business manager, hopeful candidates will need a Bachelor’s degree in business management at the very least. One can choose either an Arts degree or a Science one; although the approaches are different, both degrees prep students for similar roles.
With a successful business management undergraduate degree, candidates can jump straight into work or continue to pursue an MBA or a Master’s degree in business management.
- Learning at work
The next step in the path to a successful business management career is learning the ins and outs of your managerial job. Plenty of learning in the world of business happens on the floor and with all hands on deck, rather than behind a desk in the classroom.
Familiarization stage: In this stage, a business manager will be expected to learn their key roles and responsibilities, whether that’s employee- or business-facing. They will also be assigned smaller tasks and projects to work on alone or with a team, depending on how big the organization is.
Task stage: The mentored experience gathered from the previous stage is critical to success in this level of your career. Business managers will now be expected to manage their tasks and supervise their teams on their own, without anyone monitoring. Naturally, this stage involves creative problem-solving, fast decision-making and putting analytical skills and business knowledge to use.
Strategy stage: Once business managers have shown themselves as adept at handling multiple tasks, they’re ready for the strategy stage. This is a critical stage that heavily impacts the inner workings of a business, from the way it’s organized to the way it meets company goals. Business managers at this level will be expected to make tough decisions while keeping several factors in mind, including business models, employee strengths, USPs, market outlook and industrial environments.
- Upskilling
Several business managers choose to work and study at the same time, by signing up for a business management course, certification or a diploma from highly-ranked institutions. These add weight to their CV and allow them to look at more avenues for innovation and exploration.
Upskilling is a great way to stay relevant, hone much-needed skills and keep up with a dynamic market, especially if technology is involved. It also enables business managers to apply for higher-ranking roles within the same organization, or develop the skills needed to shift tracks to another company.
Roles in a Business Management Career
A person with a business management degree need not strictly become a business manager. The knowledge gained in this field lends itself well to several other domains which intersect, including data science, HR and sales. Other than becoming a business manager, candidates with such a degree can look at the following roles:
- Sales associates and managers
Business knowledge proves invaluable when marketing products and services to clients and increase brand awareness and loyalty.
- Marketing manager
These roles involve promoting the business across channels and working with diverse teams to establish the company’s brand name and image.
- Business analysts
People in these roles evaluate business data, spot anomalies and create actionable insights to improve business functioning.
The final word
Business management is a vast and complex field, and everyone experiences it differently. A determined attitude, razor-sharp wits and honed skills will help you stand your ground.
