Technical skills include any tasks that require you to use technology. It can be something generic like problem-solving or troubleshooting. These skills can also be specific to some hardware and software platforms and are essential for any job.
Managers need good technical skills because they do not just have to complete their tasks, but also assist others in doing there. Combining specific and generic technical skills will make them stand out in their organization.
To know more about the essential technical skills and how leaders can improve upon them, continue reading ahead.
What Are Technical Skills?
Technical skills include any tasks that require you to use technology. It can be something generic like problem-solving or troubleshooting. These skills can also be specific to some hardware and software platforms and are essential for any job.
Managers need good technical skills because they do not just have to complete their tasks, but also assist others in doing there. Combining specific and generic technical skills will make them stand out in their organization.
To know more about the essential technical skills and how leaders can improve upon them, continue reading ahead.
What are 20 Important Technical Skills for Managers?
Managers need to supervise and assess the work of others. They also have to perform some technical tasks themselves. Here are all the important technical tasks that managers need in order to succeed.
1. Computer and Digital Literacy
Computer and digital literacy is your ability to perform various tasks in the digital realm. You have to understand digital information and be able to interpret the commands. You should be able to use a computer or a laptop to search for, manipulate and communicate information. This is one of the most important technical skills in the modern world.
2. Technical Writing
Technical writing is communicating complex and jargon-heavy information to a specific group. You should be able to simplify information to appeal to a larger audience. This will require you to have in-depth knowledge of the niche.
3. Information Technology
Information technology is a broad term that includes things related to hardware and software. From using the computer to using data to communicate your message, this technical skill is the game changer for the modern world.
4. Project Management
Project management is a complex process that requires you to plan, organize and manage resources to perform a task. As a project manager, you need to follow commands and follow a particular pathway to achieve a specific goal. This is one of the most sought-after skills of the 21st century.
5. Data Management and Analytics
Managing and analyzing data is crucial to understanding market trends. Data management and analytics allow you to process, collect, store, and analyze data. You will also need to compile this data and create graphs or charts out of it. This will help you in the effective reporting of this data.
6. Communication
Not necessarily a technical skill, but having good communication skills can make or break a leader. Make sure you are eloquent and are able to communicate your thoughts in a well-mannered and structured way. This is one of the best ways to build a good team.
7. Conceptual Skills
Conceptual skills are the ability to think abstractly and see the big picture. They are essential for understanding complex problems and developing creative solutions.
8. Human or Interpersonal Skills
Human or interpersonal skills are the ability to effectively talk and build relationships with other people in the company. From building work bonds to building genuine friendships, these skills can help you get ahead in the game and maintain an excellent work-life balance.
9. Researching
The backbone of any good strategy is research. Leaders who can conduct thorough research and look for important data points succeed. This is because, with so much competition in the status quo, it is important to know how the market operates and needs from you.
10. Managing Risk
No boss or no company has been able to grow without taking some necessary risks. The problem is not with taking them, but not having the ability to navigate through them successfully. A leader should be able to act pre-emptively, so they can save the company and themselves from a big loss.
Also Read: 7 Effective Ways of Stress Management at Workplace
11. Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
One of the reasons why leaders make bad decisions is because they are not realistic about the situation at hand. Before you handle something, you need to be aware of how big the risk is. Make sure you do not jump to conclusions and include your team members before you decide on behalf of all of them.
12. Time Management
One of the most important technical skills is time management. You can be great at something, but if you are not able to manage your time, nothing really matters. To manage your time well, organize your thoughts and then communicate those thoughts on paper. By using organizational tools, you can minimize your work and avoid getting stressed about situations.
Also Read: 12 Ways Exceptional Leaders Spend Their Time Effectively
13. Evaluation Skills
A leader’s job is to not simply do their own task, but also evaluate the task of other people. This requires patience and commitment. Participative leaders and inclusive leaders are great at evaluation because they are compassionate and give room for mistakes. They are neither harsh nor criticizing, which helps them get the best out of their employees.
14. Critical Analysis
The ability to critically look at data and not get absorbed in semantics is something a manager needs to do really well. Critical analysis can be built by reading extensively and getting a range of different perspectives. Additionally, it can be enhanced by debating with other people and generating discourse.
15. Resilience
Not strictly a technical skill, but it is important for managers to be resilient and not give up so easily. Resilience is not inborn and can be acquired through a conscious effort. According to the American psychological association, Resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.
16. Emotional Intelligence
Dr. Cherniss in the presidential address at APA’s 2001 Annual Convention defined Emotional Intelligence as the ability to perceive, express and manage one’s own emotions and those of others. As a manager, this will help you know why your employee/employee is behaving a certain way and what you can do to manage the situation.
17. Emailing Writing
Considered to be an ordinary skill, email writing is actually a complex task. Every task and every communication requires a different kind of response. Good managers know how they want to manipulate their words in order to appeal to their colleagues, team members, and clients.
18. Report Writing
You can do the best work and still not get any recognition if you are not able to sell your idea well. It is important to translate your accomplishments and tasks into a report, so you can communicate effectively with your leaders and CEO. Try including tables, charts, and graphs to make your reports more interactive.
19. Organization Skills
Managers who organize well are able to save time and energy. Using management tools like Trello, Asana, and Zoho can minimize your burden and streamline your progress. Apart from this, managers should also focus on physical organization, so they can declutter their minds and focus on the tasks at hand.
20. Finance Skills
Managers are responsible for a lot that happens in the office. To ensure that people in the office are not involved in any unfair practices, managers need to have good finance skills. This will help them keep within budget and make the best monetary deals.
Top Technical Skills and Their Details
| Technical Skill | Details |
| MS Office | Analysis: Trends, Risks, significance, reliability |
| Basic Statistics | Mean, Mode, Median, Standard Deviation, Probability |
| Financial Management | Budget, Profit/Loss, Return On Investment (ROI), Time Value of Money |
| Project Management | Tasks, Milestones, Work Breakdown, Critical Path |
| Business Process Management | Plan, Do, Check, Act, |
| Computers | Internet, Malware, Wi-Fi, Mobile, Messaging, Email, |
| Communications | Presentation, Writing, Speaking, Facilitating, Leading |
| Compliance | HR, IT, Standards, Laws, Regulations (that apply to your business) |
| Social | Etiquette, Networking, Dress, Appearance, business cards, remembering names/dates |
Top 3 Technical Skills Employers Are Looking For
There are some specific technical skills that almost all modern employees are looking for. Here are the top 3 of them.
1. Data Science
Data science combines advanced-level statistics with math and requires individuals to extract information from a complex set of data. More and more companies are looking for this skill because it helps them compare and contrast data and extrapolate future trends. Managers need to thus have a basic knowledge of Python and data visualization.
2. Finance
Core financial skills include financial modeling, financial forecasting, technical analysis, quantitative analysis, and advanced computation. Compared to traditional businesses, modern businesses are leaning towards managers who have a basic understanding of all these technical financial terms and concepts.
3. Accounting
This includes research, accounting software proficiency, and financial statement preparation. Managers often rely on software products like Microsoft Excel for the analysis of computed data. Employees, as well as managers, need to know how these skills can be acquired through learning.
How Can Managers Improve Their Technical Skills?
1. Know what career trajectory you have to follow
If your aim is to become a manager or a leader one day, show an inclination towards learning these skills from the beginning. Some skills, like effective communication and problem-solving, you can acquire by simply being an efficient employee. Other skills like Data analysis and computation, you should learn through paid courses and training.
2. Research and identity priorities
It can be overwhelming to learn all these skills at the same time. Carry out research and find out the skills that you need first. To be eligible for the post of manager, you will need a basic knowledge of Microsoft Sheets and project management tools.
3. Itemize technical skills
Once you have identified the skills on the priority list, make sure you create a plan and stick to it. Mention all the important technical skills on a Word document and write the months in which you would acquire them. Make a table of all the courses you need and how much money or resources you need to acquire them. This will help you keep on track.
How to Construct the Perfect Technical List for Resume?
Here is how you can cash your technical skills in order to get that promotion or job that you really like. Do the following.
- Create a separate section for Skills or Technical skills in your resume.
- List down all the technical skills in order of priority. Make sure to write the most relevant skill first
- Make sure to add the appropriate adjectives to compel the hiring team to hire you.
- You can list your skills into categories if the skills are extensive.
- Also, add how some of the skills have helped you in your previous job.
Develop Management Skills with the Best Diplomats
Best Diplomats is a New York-based organization that offers diplomatic simulations and training programs. Their programs are designed to help participants develop the skills they need to be successful in today’s world, including management skills.
One of the ways that Best Diplomats helps participants develop management skills is through their Diplomatic Simulations. These simulations put participants in the role of diplomats, tasked with negotiating complex international issues. Through these simulations, participants learn how to build relationships, manage conflict, and make difficult decisions.
FAQs
Do technical skills include Excel?
Microsoft skills like Excel are part of technical skills. It helps managers carry out data analysis. You can create spreadsheets, input, calculate and analyze data through it.
What are the top 3 non-technical skills for managers?
Skills that are not strictly technical include teamwork skills, situation-awareness skills, and decision-making skills. Depending upon the situation, they can involve technical input or not.
What is the easiest technical skill?
The easiest technical skill is using a computer or similar hardware to input data. This is the bare minimum skill that any manager should acquire before they can look for a promotion.
How to add technical skills to my CV?
In your CV, make a separate column/heading for your technical skills and list skills according to their relevance. List the hardest skill first, followed by a couple of easier ones.
