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What Are the Job Responsibilities of a Business Administration Manager?
The responsibilities of a manager with a job in business administration are many and varied. The types of responsibilities will change based on the type of industry one finds a career in – for example, retail, manufacturing, or services. In addition, managers find their job descriptions increasingly require diverse skills and intangible qualities, such as perseverance, an understanding of what needs to be done, and an ability to “read between the lines.”
Resilience. A manager who does not expect setbacks will soon learn that they happen to most people, perhaps moreso in the business world. Being able to bounce back is only the first step, however, to being truly resilient. A manager should be able to learn from the mistakes and challenges that come with every career. The ability to see what went wrong is only the first step. That's like noticing that a roof is leaking and then just getting a bucket to catch the rain that's pouring in. Instead, if a manager is able to reflect on what has gone on and see a way to improve the situation, this is what is called double-loop learning. In our example of the roof, a double-loop learner would get a ladder and fix the leak where the water is coming in. To do so requires being able to conceptualize a problem in a new way, often in a way other than how one first encountered it.
Accountability. A manager must turn in work that is accurate and accountable. Although this partially falls in the often-overlooked realm of business ethics, being accountable will also build that valuable intangible: trust. When it comes time for review, a manager who has shown him or herself to be consistently trustworthy will be commended for it. Remember, most businesses operate on other people's money. Because of that, a manager who shows concern for shareholders’ value will usually be putting the best interests of the company first.
Leadership. It might seem obvious that people skills would go with the job, but managers have to be responsible for other people, as well. The ability to effectively motivate and lead others is not one that can be easily taught, either. Because of this, there has been a divide between what is defined as management and what is leadership, but some essential people skills are needed in order to successfully fill a role as a manager.
Communication. If you read the job descriptions of management positions, then you will repeatedly see communication skills listed as important. Most positions indicate a high degree of desired skill in public speaking and in written communication: You must be able to get your point across to a wide audience. This can include those above as well as those below you in the organizational hierarchy. Motivating others, expressing one's vision, and articulating the importance of goals will all be necessary functions of a manager.
Each position will have its own unique demands and needs, which is why hiring managers will look for certain backgrounds and screen for the desired individual during the interview process. As far as the general criteria of being a manager, it is important to develop the skills so that they can readily be seen on a CV or resume. When a specific job lists other responsibilities outside of the general list, then find which portions of your background best fit these and think of ways to bring them up during the interview process. Regularly reading job listings in your desired field can be a good way to see what HR managers are looking for, and then you will know how to fit your background to the job responsibilities.
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