INTRODUCTION
It is known that today managers must not only “manage the organization”, but also they must give consideration to its employees, terms and cross cultural challenges. Modern managers face a great variety of challenges that were not present in the past, but that evolved over the protracted period of time. That is why the role of modern managers in organization is considered to be more diversified.
Moreover, the work of managers is focused on effective leadership which promotes organizational growth. This fact is very important because the world of international management is constantly changing and there is always a necessity to make improvements and to find new effective methods. It means that modern managers cannot remain the same and they cannot use the same style of management. One of the important characteristics of good management of modern times is concluded in the ability to identify those cultures and beliefs, educational qualities and skills of the staff that will provide positive results, and to adapt special approach to the above mentioned qualities. In this situation, managers must possess and develop many critical skills which include not only technical and analytical skills, but also decision-making, conceptual, communication and human relations skills. Some modern challenges for managers are focused on information technology, employees work and collaboration with business partners on the competitive market. (Atkin 18)
My goal in this paper is to critically assess the main challenges facing the modern managers and some factors that should be considered in striving for success in a management career.
THE MAJOR CHALLENGES FACED BY MODERN MANAGERS IN ORGANIZATION
It is known that in the twenty first century, the challenges faced by modern managers have already taken a new level and differ from those challenges which were found in the previous years. For example, in previous decades, the manager’s main focus was based on effective recruiting and controlling staff as well as some other corporate resources in order to achieve the major organization’s goals, while in today’s working environment, the manager’s functions in the organization has been changed. The reasons of this fact are concluded in numerous technological advancements, changing marketplace and implementation of new methods to achieve the organization’s goals. That is why one of the most important challenges of modern managers is the ability to find appropriate methods in order to adjust with the times and to “manage change” in the organization. (Atkin 23)
There are several challenges faced by modern managers in organizations. First of all, many of the challenges modern managers face today are closely connected with a widely diverse workplace. It means that those employees who perform their duties in a proper way need retention. For example, those young people who work for this or that organization and who have been brought on computers have their own demands. For example, they prefer to use technology in their own terms including working from home and using flexible working hours. In this case, managers should do everything possible to provide healthy working environment and motivation of these employees. Moreover, in this case, modern managers should have the major goal – to achieve competences and productivity of diverse employees in the workplace who are at a lower development stage. It means they should organize special training programs for this category of employees in order to improve their performance and personal skills, such as communication skills, technical skills, decision-making skills and others. (Murphy)
Secondly, the challenges facing managers today are focused on their communication style. It is clear that different rumors, hearsay, business memos, emails, business meetings, and individual counseling sessions provide communication in the workplace. If communication in the organization is on the low level, managers are not involved in the working process in a proper way and do not maintain awareness of the business situation in the market. Moreover, they are not in touch with the customers and suppliers who play a vital role in the business process. It is wrong. Effective communication of managers is of great importance for the success of business, as communication is used to send information, control behavior in the workplace and motivate employees. According to the numerous researches, effective communication always involves such overcoming communication challenges, as selecting proper methods of communication, information overload and becoming emotional in the workplace environment. That is why it is necessary for managers to prevent the above mentioned challenges and to find appropriate methods for improvement of poor communication in the organization. (Cranage)
Thirdly, managers face the challenges base on corporate or organizational culture. Today, corporate, organization or department culture can influence the results of the manager’s work. In the workplace, such elements as the written and unwritten rules, different policies and manager’s philosophy have a potential effect on the attitudes and performance of all employees who work for this organization. In this case, one of the vital things that should be remembered when dealing with people in the workplace is that managers get the behavior they reward. If the organizational culture rewards a certain type of behavior, the managers should reaffirm that it is acceptable. If a manager intends to change behavior, it is necessary to evaluate the culture that exists in the organization. According to the research conducted by Stephan Leybourne in 2009, the organizational culture and climate can support effective working practices. The researcher explores the implementation of improvisation within the project-managed change in the organization. It is proved that the project managers in all six organizations which participated in the research provide overwhelming support for improvisational activities that lead to executing change. It means that the change from “command and control” method used by managers to the method focused on trusted and empowered employees who seek opportunities to maximize profit creates a positive organizational culture and climate. (Leyborne)
Fourthly, one bigger challenge that managers face today is focused on organizational or corporate direction. It means that the effectively communicating organizational direction with appropriate clarity and consistency to all employees is of great important for today’s managers. It is known that most organizations do not pay special attention to this issue. One of the best ways that modern manager should implement in this case is to conduct an anonymous survey based on understanding of attitudes and opinions of employees. All employees should realize the importance of organizational direction. All managers should determine the organizational mission and the major organizational goals. An organizational mission can help management to increase the probability that the organization will succeed in the competitive market. Moreover, the existence of the organizational mission helps managers to focus human efforts in a right direction. In addition, the mission makes clear the major goals the organization is trying to achieve and helps managers to keep these goals in mind during the decision-making process. (Meyer)
Fifthly, some challenges that managers face today in the workplace are based on decision making process and so-called feedback mechanisms. For example, many managers make inappropriate decisions that other employees in the workplace fail to implement in a proper way or they implement that decision but without enthusiasm. If managers make these decisions without any feedback, it means that the outcome of the decisions will be less than expected or desired. Moreover, all employees want to know the opinion of managers concerning the quality of their work. If managers fail to give employees the feedback they need, it means that managers keep them in the dark concerning the assessment of their performance. They will not have an opportunity to learn about their strengths and weaknesses and to find the appropriate ways for improvement. Besides, feedback can improve productivity and working relations between employees and managers in the workplace. (McCoy)
SOME FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN STRIVING FOR SUCCESS IN A MANAGEMENT CAREER
Those managers who want to succeed in their management career should take into consideration the following factors.
First of all, managers should handle their emotions in order to maintain healthy working environment. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to use the services of an experienced coacher. In this case, coaching is the best way to develop some personal leadership skills, and to improve performance in high-pressure stressful positions. Moreover, coaching will help to correct such management behavior problems as poor communication, indecisiveness, lack of confidence and others. (UK EMPOYEES SAY MANAGERS NEED TRAINING TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP & COMMUNICATION SKILLS)
According to the survey conducted by the specialists of a consulting firm of Manchester, Inc., 77% of employees are not satisfied with working environment, including heavy workloads, long schedules, less time spent with family, and so on. Some employees’ complaints concerning the inefficient work of managers are focused on the following factors: lack of feedback about performance, lack of career development and low earning potential, uncertainty about expectations, lack of interpersonal communication. (Mauri)
It is clear that each manager should develop his management skills in order to improve his ability to retain employees. Each manager should know how to value people in the workplace and how to value their contributions. (The Key Skillss of a Training Manager)
Peter Liddle, one of the experienced management and training development consultants in the UK who has already developed a number of effective strategic organization change projects discusses the role of training for manager in his article Training managers to manage: Peter Liddle asks why new managers aren’t given more training and support to enable them to manage properly. He states that in order to be a good manager, it is very important to have regular training that will help to achieve success in management career and to develop those management skills which are weak and can hinder managers from succeeding in career. (Liddle)
Secondly, it is very important for any successful manager to develop the value of personal responsibility in order to perform his duties in a proper way. It is known that managers not only direct different activities of employees but also they hire and fire the employees, the lower and middle managers should report to the upper managers on the outcomes of their work in the workplace. Moreover, they manage the budgeting and organize training of the staff. It is clear that personal responsibility should be on the first place in any situation. (Blair)
Thirdly, one more factor which should be taken into consideration by the managers who want to succeed in their management career is focused on management goal setting. It is impossible to achieve success in management career without goal setting skills because the work of any manager is built on different processes that are based on goal setting. As effective management is focused on a goal setting system which defines and evaluates the employees’ successful work, any manager should have appropriate skills and experience to set both short and long-term goals in order to reinforce and encourage the employees’ work habits. (Kiisel)
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it is necessary to say that today’s managers must be ready to find new innovative ways or methods to achieve the major organization’s goals in an ever-increasing competitive market. Moreover, they must be ready to take some unexpected risks in order to help organization to take the leading position. Of course, those challenges which prevent to perform the major organizational tasks in a proper way should be taken into consideration by managers of all levels who work in different organizations because only serious relation to the duties and responsibilities, motivation, job satisfaction and personal leadership can help managers to succeed in the today’s competitive marketplace. As the main manager’s competences include planning, organizing, directing, and controlling, each manager should constantly develop appropriate skills which will help him to succeed in all areas of activity.
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