A Business Manager is responsible for overseeing the staffing and operations of a business. To work in this field you’ll need to master a variety of different skills including fluency in financial concepts, data analysis skills, and the ability to use industry-specific software. You'll also need strong leadership and communication skills. In addition, you’ll need to develop an understanding of the specific type of business that you plan to work for, and you’ll also need to gain experience using your skills in your chosen field. Keep reading for more information about becoming a Business Manager.
What is a Business Manager?
A Business Manager is a leader who supervises the personnel and operations of a department or organization. They work to maintain productivity, efficiency, and organization, and to help the company achieve its goals. They also help improve overall performance and find new opportunities for growth and improvement. A small company might have only one Business Manager, while a larger company might have a number of them. Some Business Managers specialize in a specific area such as marketing, sales, or administration.
A Business Manager typically takes responsibility for a wide range of different tasks. These vary depending on the industry they work in and the company they work for, however, in general, this position involves four main aspects. One is planning, which means setting future goals and making a plan for achieving them. The second is organizing tasks and resources so that business plans can be implemented. A third part of business management is leading employees. Finally, Business Managers are responsible for controlling the operations of a business, which means keeping track of how it is performing and making any changes that are needed.
Hard Skills
Data Analysis
Data analysis is widely used in businesses of all kinds, and you’re likely to need this skill in any type of business management job. By analyzing data, a business can get a better understanding of how the business is operating, what customers want, and how to improve business operations. Tableau is a visual data analytics platform that allows users to see and understand their data better and is used by many different businesses. Excel is also used for business data analytics.
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Financial Literacy
Financial literacy is an important part of being a Business Manager. This means understanding key financial concepts and being able to use them in your job. Some of the daily tasks that might necessitate financial literacy include interpreting financial statements, making a budget, and making investment decisions.
Computer Software
Business Managers use a number of different software applications to help them manage their daily tasks and to facilitate collaboration with team members. The specific software that you’ll need to learn will depend on the field you work in. For instance, if your job involves project management, you may need to learn a project management application such as Microsoft Project to help you do things like manage resources, monitor progress, and track schedules and budgets. Another common type of software used in business management is data analytics software like Power BI. Businesses of all types and sizes often use data analytics software to help them get a better understanding of what their customers want, how the business is operating, and how they can do better.
Industry-Specific Knowledge
As a Business Manager, you’ll be involved in many different aspects of the business that you’re managing and will be making important decisions about how that business operates. In order to do all of this, you’ll need to gain an in-depth understanding of the industry that you will be working in.
Soft Skills
Leadership
One of the most important soft skills that you’ll need in business management is leadership. As a Business Manager, you will lead a team of people and you’ll need to learn how to carry out many different leadership-related jobs such as delegating tasks, inspiring your team, solving conflicts, and encouraging collaboration. Effective leadership is key to helping a business and its employees thrive.
Communication
Communication is also a critical part of business management. This includes both verbal and written communication. Business Managers need to make sure that the people they manage have a good understanding of things like business goals and deadlines, and they need to be able to effectively share feedback about performance. They also need to be able to resolve conflicts. Strong communication skills are needed in order to accomplish all of these tasks.
Strategic Thinking
Strategic thinking means being able to understand how your decisions and your management strategy will affect the future of the business and using that understanding to make a plan for long-term success. Some examples of situations that involve strategic thinking are buying company resources or creating a business model.
What Other Jobs Require These Skills?
Business Managers analyze, plan, and control the activities of a business. There are also a number of other jobs that require these skills. For instance, a Financial Manager is focused on managing a business’s finances. Some of the tasks they might be responsible for include analyzing financial data, making financial goals, preparing financial statements, and making forecasts for the future. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), between 2022 and 2032, there will be strong job growth in this field. It predicts 16 percent growth, which is far higher than the average U.S. job growth rate of 3 percent. This job also tends to pay well; according to BLS, Financial Managers earn about $156,000 yearly.
A Sales Manager is another related job. Sales Managers are focused on managing the sales operations of a company. The tasks involved in this job include setting goals, creating sales strategies, making budgets, and tracking performance. A Sales Manger is also responsible for hiring and training a sales team. BLS predicts that there will be 4 percent growth in this field over the next decade. It notes, “Sales managers have a lot of responsibility, and the position can be stressful.” It also reports that travel is common for Sales Managers. The average salary for this role is $135,000.
Another job that requires business management skills is the position of Computer and Information Systems Manager. Individuals in this role manage the computer-related activities of a company. Some of their tasks might be: monitoring and installing new software, managing how technology is used and data is stored, and keeping computer systems secure and up-to-date. According to BLS, jobs in this field will grow by 15 percent over the next ten years. It says, “Demand for computer and information systems managers will grow as organizations increasingly rely on information technology (IT) services and require these workers to plan and oversee computer hardware and software needs.” The average salary for this position is $169,000, according to BLS.
Learn the Skills to Become a Business Manager at Noble Desktop
Noble Desktop is a New York City-based school that offers a wide variety of business classes, both in person--at its Manhattan facility--and in a live online format. Courses include comprehensive, hands-on bootcamps and certificate programs, which are designed to help you master all the skills that you’ll need in order to work as a business manager. Noble also runs a number of shorter courses where you can spend a day or two learning essential business skills like financial modeling or Excel. This school is licensed by the New York State Education Department.
- One popular Noble Desktop option is the “MBA” Business Certificate. This course is an “MBA-style” program and it includes some of the skills taught in MBA programs. In this class, you’ll learn tools and strategies for finance, project management, marketing, and data analysis. You’ll also learn about the practical applications of generative AI, and will get access to a self-paced class that covers the basics of business insurance, employment law, and business law. This class includes the option to take electives that match your specific area of interest. Finally, it comes with eight one-on-one mentoring sessions.
- Another popular certificate program is the Data Analytics Certificate. In this course you’ll learn about gathering, wrangling, analyzing, and visualizing data, and you’ll work on a number of real-world projects. Both predictive and prescriptive analytics are covered, in addition to Python, Excel, Tableau, and SQL. All students also receive eight one-on-one mentoring sessions, which can be used to work on challenging concepts or for resume and portfolio advice.
- Noble Desktop also runs many different business-related bootcamps. The Project Management Bootcamp is a popular option. This class is designed for students who want to learn more about project management. It is a combination of the school’s Level I and Level II classes and is offered at a discount. When you take the Project Management Bootcamp, you’ll learn the five phases of project management and will receive a slide deck that contains a variety of exercises. You’ll also learn about Waterfall, Critical Path, and Agile methods of project management, including popular Agile frameworks. You’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end of the class.
- Another bootcamp option is the Chat GTP & AI for Business Bootcamp. This course is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to utilize AI in your daily business tasks. You’ll learn how to create effective prompts, manage conversations, and use advanced features like memory settings. You’ll also learn about the ethical considerations of AI. In addition, the course focuses on ways to use AI for task management, communication, and project planning. You’ll learn about automating repetitive tasks, optimizing schedules, and improving collaboration and administrative workflows.
- Noble also offers many shorter classes focused on a number of different business skills. For example, it has a variety of short Excel classes: Excel Level 1,Level 2, and Level 3. Level 1 is focused on getting familiar with the interface, entering data, using essential formulas and functions, and creating charts. You’ll also learn how to format and print. Level 2 covers splitting and joining text, adding data validation, named ranges, database functions, adding logical statements, and using Pivot Tables. In addition, you’ll learn to use statistical functions and create advanced combo charts. In Level 3, instructors cover advanced concepts including cell locking, auditing, hotkeys, formatting for calculating dates, advanced functions, advanced analytical tools, Pivot Charts, and advanced database functions.