Operations and general managers work to coordinate their staff. Even though training and education requirements vary extraordinarily by industry and position, numerous top executives have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and a decent amount of relevant work experience.
Work Experience
A variety of top executives end up advancing within their own firm. They may start out in lower level supervisory or managerial positions. Other companies however, often prefer to hire qualified candidates from outside their organization. Top executives who are promoted from lower level positions may be able to substitute experience for education in order to move up within a company. Industries such as transportation or retail trade for example and or individuals with no college degree may work their way up to higher levels within the company to become general managers or executives.
Typically, chief executives require a degree of managerial experience. As well, executives are expected to have additional experience within the specialty area of organization. Most operations managers and general managers hired from outside of an organization require lower level management or supervisory experience in a related field.
Certain general managers may advance to higher level executive or managerial positions. Company training programs, certification and executive development programs can often be beneficial for executives or managers wishing to advance. Commonly, CEOs or chief executive officers become board of directors' members.
Education & Training
A variety of top executives have a master's degree or a bachelor's degree in business administration or similar related field. Within the public sector, top executives commonly have a degree in the liberal arts, law, business administration and public administration. It is common for these executives of sizeable corporations to have an MBA or masters of business administration. School superintendents and college presidents have a doctoral degree in the area of study they initially taught or in education administration.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Top executives often complete certification programs that are provided by the Institute of Certified Professional Managers in order to earn the CM or Certified Manager credential. In order to become CM, candidates need to meet experience and education requirements and pass 3 particular exams.
Certification is not mandatory; however, it proves potential leadership skills and can show management competency. Jobseekers gain a competitive edge with certification and may help those seeking advancement.
Skills and Qualities that will Help
Communication Skills: It is vital that top executives communicate persuasively and clearly. They need to effectively discuss issues and negotiate with others while directing support staff. Explaining their decisions and policies to those outside and within the organization are equally important.
Decision-Making Skills: Decision making skills are necessary when managing an organization and setting policies. Different situations must be assessed and various options taken into consideration in order to choose the best course of action, often on a daily basis.
Leadership Skills: It is necessary for top executives to be able to successfully lead an organization by coordinating resources, people and policies.
Management Skills: Top executives need to direct and organize the operations of an organization. They must for example, mange business plans, budgets and employees.
Problem-Solving Skills: After identifying certain issues within an organization, top executives rely on problem solving skills to determine a positive course of action and how to implement effective solutions.
Time-Management Skills: It is important for top executives to carry out a variety of tasks simultaneously; particularly under their own direction in order to ensure that their goals are met and their workload is complete.
