What Are Management Skills—List & Examples for Resume

A good manager usually has to wear multiple hats to complete the wide range of tasks they are held responsible for. They always have to be present on several fronts at the same time, and make sure to lead the ship to safe harbor while ensuring that everyone on deck does their job. And that takes a lot of skills and knowledge.

Find out what the most important management skills are and what makes a good manager great.

In this article: 

• Why are management skills so important?
• What are management skills and how to develop them.
• Examples of management skills.
• How to put management skills on a resume.

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Once you’ve perfected your management skills, check out a selection of these resume writing guides:

• Manager Resume Example
• Supervisor Resume Example
• Project Manager Resume Example
• Store Manager Resume Example
• Assistant Manager Resume Example
• Business Manager Resume Example
• Event Planner Resume Example
• Office Manager Resume Example
• Program Manager Resume Example
• Property Manager Resume Example
• Supply Chain Manager Resume Example
• Career Change Resume Example
• Best Resume Samples for All Jobs

Read more about skills to put on your resume:

• Computer Skills
• Technical Skills
• Marketing Skills
• Conflict Resolution Skills
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Conceptual Skills
• Interpersonal Skills
• Creative Thinking Skills
• What Skills to Put On a Resume

Management Skills Resume Example

What Are Management Skills?

Management skills are extremely important for the development of a company. A manager who cultivates good management skills is able to achieve the company's mission, with a particular focus on the organization’s goals and team dynamics.

Management and leadership skills are often used interchangeably because they include planning, decision-making, problem-solving, communication, task delegation, and time management. Good managers are almost always good leaders.

The difference between management and leadership is that leadership is about motivating people and getting them to understand and believe in your vision and to work with you to achieve your goals, while management is ensuring that the day-to-day operations are executed.

So it is possible to be a good manager, but not a great leader.

Although managers should know how to lead, because managing is also about ensuring that all parts of the organization function cohesively. Without this kind of flawless integration, problems may arise and failure is bound to happen. 

1. Top Management Skills Examples

Good management isn’t just about having a strong personality and the ability to manage people. The concept is way more complex. And showing them on a resume takes showing, not just telling.

Here are some of the most effective management skills that make a good manager great:

1. Time management

Time is your most precious resource as a manager. In fact, you will almost always suffer from a lack of it. Everyone is given an equal number of hours during a work day, but how you go about utilizing your time will ultimately determine whether you’re a successful manager or not. That’s why you need to know how to effectively use it and manage it.

2. Strong organizational skills

Without the ability to organize your work, it’s difficult to properly plan projects or budgets for a given quarter. A good manager notes not only appointments, but writes down exactly what he or she is going to accomplish that day, week, month, and so on...

3. Empathy

Listening and responding to an employee with a sense of empathy is one of the most important abilities of a good manager. Empathy allows managers to reward and motivate their subordinates fairly. It also allows them to maximize their potential. 

4. Reporting

Reporting is the ability to separate the wheat from the chaff, that is, to communicate relevant information in a clear way to other departments and superiors. How are you supposed to convince others of your results if they can't understand what you actually do?

5. Delegating 

No matter how good and efficient you are, there are more tasks to complete than the capacity of even the fastest, most effective employee. Therefore, the ability to adequately delegate tasks is a very important managerial skill and if not done properly, can result in poor work quality.

6. Stress management

Being in a more responsible, managerial position involves much more pressure. A manager mediates between the management and his or her team, interacts with clients, and makes very important decisions. Being able to handle stressful situations is an essential part of being a great manager.

7. Technical skills

Technical competencies include skills that give managers the abilities and knowledge to apply various techniques to achieve their goals. These skills include not only operating machinery and software, production tools and equipment, but also the skills needed to increase sales, design different types of products and services, and market services and products.

8. Interpersonal skills

People skills or interpersonal skills are skills that help managers interact, work and build relationships with other people. These skills enable managers to use human potential in the company and motivate employees to achieve better results. 

9. Problem-solving skills

A good manager must be able to address and solve common problems that may arise on a typical work day. Problem-solving in management involves identifying a certain problem or situation and then finding the best way to solve it.

10. Decision-Making

Managers are responsible for charting the course of their teams or organizations. Effective decision-making shapes the strategic direction, guiding them toward success. Decision-making directly impacts customer satisfaction. Whether in sales, customer service, or product development, choices that prioritize customer needs lead to loyalty.

2. List of Management Skills for Resumes

Managers are responsible for ensuring that things are done properly. And while leaders can bring us vision, inspiration and challenge, these things don't matter without effective implementation, which comes with good management.

To be a great manager, you need to have a broad set of managerial skills—from planning and delegating, to communication and motivation.

Good Management Skills List

• Interpersonal skills
• Communication 
• Motivation
• Organization 
• Delegation
• Creativity
• Forward planning 
• Strategic thinking
• Interviewing
• Conflict management
• Team building
• Flexibility
• Dependability
• Problem-solving 
• Decision-making
• Commercial awareness
• Adaptability
• Mentoring
• Collaboration
• Teamwork
• People management
• Relationship building
• Responsibility
• Analytical thinking
• Coaching
• Reporting
• Negotiating
• Stress management 
• Project management
• Administrative skills
• Business development
• Computer skills
• Constructive criticism
• Integrity
• Empathy
• Office management

As the business world changes, the manager's role also adjusts and becomes more complex than ever before. 

3. How to Put Management Skills on a Resume

When writing a resume for management positions… especially for management positions, you’ll have to include a list of skills that directly relates to the available position. This means using special resume keywords and phrases that will take your management resume to the next level.

So let’s go through all the steps of writing a great resume together:

1. Begin With an Eye-Catching Resume Summary or Objective

Have you ever heard of the 6-second rule? What it means, is that recruiters only spend about 6 seconds reviewing a single resume. So in those few seconds you have to not only catch their attention, but prove that you are the best candidate for the job. 

The first section, your resume profile, is your first chance to do that. Use the keywords that refer to management skills from the job listing, and put them in your summary. 

Expert Hint: Targeting your resume is an important step to being seen during a job search. It not only helps the hiring manager to better assess your competencies, but also helps you create a more ATS-friendly resume. Pair it with an ATS resume template and you don't have to worry about those automatic resume screenings anymore! 

Here’s an example that will give you an idea of what it should look like:

Management Skills in Resume Summary

Detail-oriented finance professional and CPA with 5+ years of experience managing financial functions within a company through analyzing results , identifying trends, and communicating information to the team. Managed, hired and trained 5 direct reports and the company's $50 million accounting department and HR. Managed a 4-person FP A team responsible for monthly management reporting and variance analysis, pricing administration, policy and process.

What you can see highlighted are management skills in all their glory used in a skillfully-written resume profile.

2. Showcase Your Qualifications in the Resume Work History Section

You know how to keep yourself focused on the big picture so that you never get diverted from your bigger objectives.

And you’ve been successful at that every single time. Prove that on your resume’s work experience section by using measurable achievements.

Here’s an example of awards and achievements in a resume:

Good Management Skills in Work Experience Section

Finance Manager

LHT, Inc., New York City

June 2018–August 2021

• Excelled in strategic planning, forecasting, budgeting, new business development, financial modeling, and general ledger accounting
• Oversaw the operations of the treasury department, including the design of an organizational structure.
• Increased revenue per contract through selling of extended service contracts, insurance, and other financial products
• Identified and drove tactical pricing changes aligned with customer risk profiles, resulting in over $7 million in new revenue annually.

Expert Hint: Using quantifiable results helps recruiters understand just how successful a candidate has been in the past. 

3. Use Your Resume’s Education Section to Showcase Your Management Skills

If you think the education section is irrelevant, you’re very far from the truth. You see, each resume section has its own purpose, which you can always use to your advantage. 

Like so:

Management Skills Showcased in Education Section

MS in Accounting

Syracuse University

2014

• GPA: 3.93 (Top 10% of Class)
• Relevant Coursework: International Financial Management, Financial Modeling and Analysis, Strategic Management
• Extracurricular activities: Team captain of girls’ soccer team

See what it does? It shows that the candidate had leadership potential way back in college and that makes a big difference.

4. Jazz Up Your Skills Section

The skills section of a resume is a magic little place that really highlights your abilities and qualifications. Although every part of a resume is important, this one catches the recruiters’ attention the most. 

Let’s take a look:

Listing Management Skills on Resume

• MS Excel (advanced)
• Project management software: Liquid Planner, SmartSheet
• Prevero, Vena, eMoney Advisor
• QuickBooks, Sage
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Project management
• Time management
• Decision-making skills

There are two ways that you can approach this:

1. You can detail several of your most important skills in one list.

or 

2. You can make two lists: one for hard skills and a separate one for soft skills.

The choice is yours.

5. Include Additional Sections to Up Your Chances

Adding bonus sections is a great way to highlight your management skills even more. You can show off anything from certifications, foreign languages, associations, or other activities you regularly participate in.

Put your creative hat on! Spice up that resume layout even more!

Management Skills in Resume Bonus Sections

Certifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Languages

• Spanish (proficient)

Nothing screams more that you can tackle any project in any area than a variety of additional sections on your resume.

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4. Developing Management Skills

Because the management skill set is so broad, it's tempting to build your skills in areas of management you're already comfortable with. 

But for long-term success, a smart approach is to examine your skills in all areas of management... and then challenge yourself to improve in all those areas.

1. Keep developing your qualifications

Grow professionally, no matter what position you have. Postgraduate studies (MBA, business psychology, etc.), courses, certifications, trainings, interesting projects—all this can make you start to use your potential more fully and achieve success.

2. Resolve conflicts

A manager is responsible for the mood of the team. If you see conflicts, don't ignore them and wait for them to escalate. Use your mediation skills to deal with conflict as soon as it arises to diffuse any negative interaction. 

3. Analyze mistakes

Despite your best intentions, you may make mistakes every once in a while. The important thing is to take responsibility for them. It's important that you analyze your failures and learn lessons for the future. This attitude will earn you the respect of your team.

4. Set ambitious goals for yourself

Your attitude affects the team you manage. If you are constantly growing and persistently pursuing your goals, you have a chance to motivate and inspire your team.

5. Develop your communication skills

Of all the skills you need to be a successful manager, effective communication is perhaps the most important. Develop your communication skills by engaging in relationships in the workplace and in other professional settings such as conferences, networking events, etc.

6. Develop your emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, manage, and regulate your own emotions. Your ability to observe and measure the emotions communicated by the members of your team will be of invaluable help in day-to-day management. Building emotional intelligence helps teams to communicate and to collaborate, while ensuring everyone is heard, listened to, and valued.

7. Know how to create a positive team dynamic

A team is made up of individuals who must be able to adapt to each other to create a collective vision of success for the organization. As a manager, it is essential to be able to adapt your management and coaching style to the unique needs of each employee to help them perform as required.

8. Know your strengths and weaknesses

A good manager must be aware of their skills and personality. Once you know your strengths and weaknesses, you will be able to focus more on what you do best, with full knowledge of how you can work around your weaker areas.

9. Be transparent

Always be yourself and don't hide behind a mask. People will know if you are sincere or not. Your employees need all the information they can get to help you achieve your business goals and objectives. Not getting the information out can get both you and your team in trouble along the way.

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Key Points

A manager must be able to effectively manage his team members, train and motivate them, and organize the various tasks of the project at the same time. They must guide their team, unite them, give them specific objectives to achieve, show recognition, and know how to boost their motivation. Including management skills in a resume is important to prove that you have leadership ability, that you are organized, and that you know how to handle projects well.

If you’re still struggling to find the right management skills, or you just need some advice on how to include them in your resume, let us know in the comments below. We’re happy to help.

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