What Is the Role of a Manager?

Updated 6 February 2023

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Managers are an important component in an efficient and effective operation. Though there are managers in almost every industry, they may have different responsibilities and can follow different management styles. If you are or want to become a manager, you may want to learn more about which management style can work best for you. In this article, we cover what is the role of a manager, and discuss the various types of management styles they might use.

What is a manager?

A manager is the appointed leader of a team who helps achieve goals by providing staff members with guidance and structure. Managers are prevalent in every industry and in almost every company and organisation because they improve accountability and increase productivity. Managers may have varying responsibilities depending on the size of their team and the business they work within.

What is the role of a manager?

The role of a manager is often focused on providing leadership for the employees they oversee. Being a good leader is a complex task, and it is critical the professionals in these roles set a positive example. Good managers must also be effective communicators. You cannot guide others successfully if they do not understand your expectations. The best managers can communicate clearly, concisely and respectfully.

Additionally, managers are also often responsible for delegation. The manager cannot take on all the responsibilities of the staff, so it is critical they can identify who is best-equipped for each duty and delegate tasks appropriately.

What are the responsibilities of a manager?

A manager is responsible for ensuring the success of their team and staff members. To do this, they perform several functions daily and monthly. These are some responsibilities a manager may have:

Budget for expenses

Usually, the size of the manager's organisation and the administrative structure determines the manager's financial responsibilities. If the manager has a smaller team or organisation, they might manage much of the finances themselves. In a larger company, they may work closely with a financial team within the organisation. For example, the manager of a small restaurant may determine how much to spend on produce and dairy supplies each week.

Coach team members

When a staff member experiences complications or is unsure of how to improve their performance, managers provide guidance. This can include giving the team member specific instructions for how to improve their performance. For example, a manager may suggest to a writer to prepare outlines and take small breaks to avoid writer's block.

Develop team skills

To improve a team's ability to collaborate and produce quality work, a manager encourages the development of team skills. To do this, a manager might plan team-building exercises and provide advice for how a team can work better together. The manager might also strategically designate teams so that the members might learn skills from one another, as well. For example, as a manager, you may have a technically skilled individual work with a more charismatic individual so they can complement one another.

Establish expectations

Setting goals and strategising to meet them is an important part of what a manager does, as it allows a team to strive for improvement and maintain a healthy production level. To establish expectations within the workplace, managers may implement quotas, create community guidelines and create detailed tracking systems. For example, a manager may establish the expectation that team members attempt to remedy complications themselves before addressing them with the manager.

Evaluate performance

To ensure the team is constantly improving, a manager consistently evaluates performance and progress. A thorough performance evaluation focuses on both individual progression and development, as well as how the entire team is improving. The purpose of performance evaluations is to provide guidance for further improvement. For example, a manager may conduct monthly or quarterly performance review meetings with their team members.

Facilitate communication

To promote healthy teamwork and avoid complications, managers facilitate consistent communication among their teams. To do this, managers may hold weekly meetings, prompt team members to collaborate with one another and help to mediate any disagreements. For example, a manager may implement a daily morning meeting in which team members can discuss their obstacles or objectives for the day and how to best support one another.

Maintain product quality

To build a loyal customer base, a company must supply a quality product or service. The manager maintains or improves a company's profits and product quality by performing quality assurance or delegating those duties to other team members. For example, a manager may test products to ensure they are working properly or conduct surveys among customers to ensure their service was high-quality.

Monitor daily progression

While performance reviews occur on a monthly or quarterly basis, it is also important for managers to understand and monitor their daily progression as well. This may mean documenting and overseeing the work the team completes each day. For example, in a factory, the manager may record how much of each product the team produces each day to ensure they can meet their production quota at the end of the week.

Plan activities and functions

A manager coordinates or delegates related tasks regarding daily activities and functions that take place in a workspace. This can include regular daily functions like projects, new regulations and meetings, but it also includes special events like parties or annual sales. For example, if an office is planning to celebrate the launch of a new product, the manager may initiate the planning and delegate various duties related to the launch to different team members.

Provide customer service

If the manager works in a customer-facing industry, they may need to provide direct customer service to the company's consumers. This may include consulting with them on which product to buy, assisting with returns and refunds or providing other support. For example, the manager of a retail store may be approached by a customer and help them find the specific item they are looking for. This also allows the manager to provide an example for their team members on how to provide excellent customer service.

Recruit new talent

When the team expands and creates new positions or when a spot becomes available, the manager may recruit new talent to fill those spots. Finding new talent is important to ensure a team has the skills and experience necessary to produce quality work, so the manager must be skilled at evaluating candidates and deciding which of them are best suited for the position. For example, a manager may review resumes, schedule and conduct interviews and consult with other professionals when making hiring decisions.

Train new staff members

Once the manager hires a new team member, they ensure the new staff member receives proper training. The manager can do this by delegating training tasks like preparing educational material to others, or by creating it themselves. For example, a manager may give new team members a tour of the building, provide them with their credentials and review training materials with them. If the manager does not directly oversee this process, they delegate training duties to trainers and evaluate the performance of those trainers.

What are the types of management?

Depending on which industry you work in, how big your team is and your priorities, different management styles may work for you. Here are some management styles:

Authoritative

In the authoritative management style, the manager regulates every aspect of daily operations. Authoritative managers prefer to perform most tasks themselves and may not delegate as much as other managers. This management style can be beneficial because it allows a team to operate smoothly with less skilled team members and develops clearly defined roles.

Charismatic

Managers who are excellent communicators and great at speaking with people are excellent for the charismatic management style. In this style, the manager uses their interpersonal abilities to help motivate their employees to adopt the same intentions and inspirations as the manager. This style can be helpful because it allows team members to feel emotionally understood and can create a positive environment.

Delegative

Managers who use this management style assign tasks to their team members and empower them to complete them. A delegative manager regulates less than other types of leaders, leading to an environment in which team members can use their creativity. This management style is beneficial for teams with strong, independent staff members because it can allow them to feel more fulfiled in their roles.

Pacesetting

For this management style, the manager exercises their leadership abilities by setting an example for their team members. A pacesetting manager has high expectations for their team members and demonstrates that through their own behaviour. This leadership style is beneficial because it allows the manager to inspire and motivate their employees.

Participative

Communication and brainstorming are key components of the participative management style. Managers who use this style actively involve their team members when making decisions and seek out their opinions and thoughts. The participative management style can help encourage innovation among team members.

Visionary

The visionary management style emphasizes positive environments, teamwork and inspiration. A visionary manager consistently provides their team with information about goals and objectives and encourages everyone to work together to achieve them. Constructive criticism and other positive guidance are important tools for the manager that uses the visionary style, as it allows them to gently redirect their team members.