Do you need a degree to be a manager?

There is a lot to be said of individuals that work hard and go to college to get their degrees but there is also a lot to be said of the individuals that work hard on the job to learn the skills they need to advance in their careers. Learning how to be a manager in school is one thing but coming to the job with the skills is another. Some people have it and some simply don't, even if the "paper" says they should have these skills. Many people wonder if they have to go to college in order to be a manager and the simple answer is "no". However the type of manager you want to be can be influenced by your education and some positions do require the degree for you to advance.

Of course to know if you can apply for the position you need to first read through the prerequisites. Your employer may suggest that you apply even if you don't have the degree because you do have a lot of work-related experience and a lot of personal skills that you can bring to the position. In many cases the person with the skills will be the one that is hired, not always the person that might "look the part".

There is a need for good managers in every organization. They are vital to the growth and continued success of a company. Managers are necessary to keeping everything flowing correctly through the organization and to be sure you have the right people working for the company that will be able to keep the company working and flowing in the right direction. There are some people that need minimal supervision while others will need a manager to literally hold their hand all the time. This is why finding a good manager can be a challenge as you need to seek out a person that is able to blend with many different personalities.

So what are the things you need to have in order to be a good manager? Here are some of the qualities you need to possess:

• Confidence. You must have confidence in yourself and in your abilities to be a success. Confidence can come across as arrogance so you do need to make sure you are personable in order to show people you are confident, not arrogant.


• Personable. A person that manages others needs to enjoy working with people. You need to be the person that is able to communicate with a lot of others and to be sure that you are "out there" with them and not always hiding in your office.


• Integrity. A manager will be a friend and mentor to many people and you must be a trustworthy and honest person. Be true to who you really are and make sure you are straight forward.


• Foster teamwork. Managers need to be able to bring together a variety of people and make them into a team. This isn't always the easiest thing to do but you will be able to do it if you surround yourself with good people and you are able to help include them. Make sure they all feel confident in their jobs and that you show to them how valuable they are to the company as it will really build up unity.


• Dependable. A manager must be relied upon for a number of different things. You need to be consistent with your decisions but make sure your employees see that you trust them and you rely on them for advice and input as well.