Top 10 Skills for Managing People in 2025

The modern-day manager needs a plethora of skills. We’ve previously talked about the characteristics of a good manager, but today we are looking at the key skills a manager will need in 2025. As the decade comes to a close, have a look at these skills, think about whether you have these skills for managing people, or whether you need to build upon and improve these skills for managing in 2025. Anyway, let’s get into it. Here are the skills we think are important for managing people. Let us know if you think we missed something.

1. Integrity

Integrity is one of the most important skills for a manager. For a manager, it means being committed to the values, principles, methods and goals of the organization. It also denotes the principle of honesty.

2. Communication

Communication is perhaps the greatest skill anyone can have in the workplace. A healthy work environment is one where communication is effective and open. As a manager, communication is also very important, but differs from the more encompassing definition of workplace communication. As a manager communication is important. It means your team are kept regularly up to date and you are kept informed of their actions – open communication. It is also important to communicate recognition, motivation and discipline to name a few.

3. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to positively understand, use and manage your emotions for both your individual wellbeing and to empathize with others. Emotional intelligence is an essential trait for managers, it is pivotal in a range of other skills, including self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and in social situations. It may sound like if you don’t have it already, you won’t get it. But do not fret, like any skill, emotional intelligence can be developed.

4. Listening

For a manager, listening may not strike you as one of the most important skills for managing. But it is. Listening skills allow managers understand the current positions, intentions, motivations and feelings of their team. It allows their team to be more open and motivated, while providing the manager with essential information about how everyone is doing.

5. Decision Making

In the operations of business, it is inevitable that you will have to tackle problems. We’ve all seen how bad decisions can drastically alter the nature of work. Managers need to be able to make tough decisions, and fast. Decisiveness can be described as a sub-skill of decision making.

6. Pragmatic

Pragmatic managers are practical thinkers. They are quick to adapt to changing circumstances and they focus on the processes which allow the team to reach their goals.

7. Team Building

Good managers are good at building teams from the bottom. They are also good at maintaining team morale and motivation among others. A good manager will build a team which is diverse and inclusive. A good manager will make sure their team are working towards a common goal.

8. Project Management

Being a good project manager is imperative for the success of the team. It involves monitoring, planning, controlling, overseeing and executing projects to a very good standard. Lead projects well, and your team begin to see patterns of success. They will learn from you and become better team members.

9. Leadership

Great leaders and great managers are behind the successes of a great business. There are various different types of leadership styles a manager can be, from democratic to laissez faire. Different styles suit different people and different workplaces. There is no one size fits all policy. Leadership also has very important links with employee engagement.

10. Strategic Thinking

Problem solving, innovation, creativity and the like are a perfect formula for the manager who wants to be a step ahead of the competition.