In the second semester of the BBA, i.e., Bachelor of Business Administration, there is a subject called managerial soft skills development. A primary question that often arises is – what exactly is this subject and how is it related to BBA?

Unfolding the Subject: Managerial Soft Skills Development

The term ‘managerial’ pertains to managers or management, indicating that this subject focuses on the development of managerial skills for future success within an organisation. This subject under the BBA education sheds light on the transformation into competent managers.

Remember, wherever you work, whether it’s within an organisation or any kind of business administration, you are considered a manager in a true sense as your role involves managing tasks and processes. Thus, the subject is aimed at honing the skills required to be a proficient manager.

Journey to Becoming a Good Manager

There are several traits and skills that one needs to develop to become a good manager. Let’s delve into these:

• Stay Positive: A crucial trait that is sought in a manager is positivity. A manager must always respond positively, instilling a sense of optimism in the team. This positive attitude is not just about being cheerful every second of the day, but about maintaining an optimistic outlook that can lead to successful outcomes.

Some techniques to stay positive as a manager are:

1. Cultivate a Positive Mindset: This can be achieved by regularly engaging in positive affirmations and visualisations. Surround yourself with positive influences and continuously feed your mind with uplifting and motivational content.
2. Gratitude Practice: Regularly acknowledging and expressing gratitude for the things you have can greatly enhance your mood and overall outlook. It can also provide a more balanced perspective when dealing with challenges.
3. Exercise Regularly: Physical activity can significantly boost your mood and energy levels, enabling you to tackle daily tasks with a positive attitude.
4. Maintain Work-Life Balance: Ensuring that you have time for relaxation and personal pursuits can reduce stress and increase overall happiness, contributing to a more positive outlook at work.
5. Solutions-focused Approach: Instead of dwelling on problems, shift your focus towards finding solutions. This active problem-solving approach can lead to a sense of achievement and positivity.
6. Maintain a Positive Environment: Encourage a positive, respectful, and supportive environment in the workplace. This can boost morale and enhance positivity among the team.
7. Celebrate Successes: Acknowledge and celebrate individual and team successes, no matter how small they might be. This not only fosters a sense of achievement but also promotes positivity.
8. Continuous Learning and Development: Adopt a growth mindset and see every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow. This approach helps foster resilience and a positive attitude towards change and adversity.
9. Effective Stress Management: Identify your stress triggers and develop effective coping strategies, such as meditation, mindfulness, or yoga.
10. Help Others: Assisting others, either directly or by facilitating their success, can bring about a deep sense of satisfaction and positivity.

• Be a Good Listener: In today’s fast-paced world, being a good listener is a valuable attribute. If a worker faces a problem, a good manager listens carefully and offers viable solutions. This quality not only aids in creating an empathetic work environment but also encourages a team-oriented approach where everyone’s ideas are heard and valued.

Some ways to become a good listener so that you can become a good manager are:

1. Practise Active Listening: Active listening involves fully focusing on the speaker, understanding their message, responding thoughtfully, and then remembering the key points. This is different from passive listening, where you might hear the words but not fully engage with the meaning.
2. Avoid Distractions: If you’re checking your phone or laptop, you’re not fully engaged in the conversation. To become a good listener, you need to put away any distractions and fully focus on the person who’s speaking.
3. Be Patient: Let the speaker finish their point before responding. Try not to interrupt, even if you have something important to say. Patience is key when it comes to effective listening.
4. Show Empathy: Understanding the speaker’s emotions and showing empathy is a crucial part of effective listening. This can help to build rapport and trust with the speaker.
5. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Instead of asking questions that can be answered with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’, ask open-ended questions. This can encourage the speaker to share more information and can deepen your understanding of their point of view.
6. Summarise and Reflect: Periodically summarise what you’ve heard and reflect it back to the speaker. This shows that you’re engaged with what they’re saying and helps to ensure you’ve understood correctly.
7. Read Non-Verbal Cues: Pay attention to the speaker’s body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. These non-verbal cues can often convey just as much, if not more, information than their words.
8. Provide Feedback: Let the speaker know you’re engaged by providing feedback, whether that’s nodding in agreement, providing a verbal acknowledgement, or offering a thoughtful response.
9. Practice Regularly: Like any other skill, listening takes practice. Try to incorporate these tips into your everyday conversations, not just in the workplace.
10. Foster a Culture of Listening: As a manager, you can help to foster a culture of listening within your team. Encourage team members to listen to each other, provide constructive feedback on each other’s listening skills, and celebrate those who excel in this area. This can lead to better communication, increased collaboration, and a more harmonious working environment.

• Dress Smartly: Though one’s personality is of the utmost importance, appearance does matter in the professional world. Dressing smartly leaves a positive impact and fosters a professional image in the workplace.

Power dressing is all about conveying confidence, competence, and professionalism through your clothing choices. Here are some tips for both men and women on how to power dress effectively:

For Men:

1. Suits and Formal Attire: Choose a well-fitted suit in a neutral colour like navy, black, or grey. A crisp white or light blue shirt is a classic choice, along with a tasteful tie.
2. High-Quality Shoes: Invest in a pair of high-quality leather shoes in black or brown. Ensure they are polished and well-maintained.
3. Minimal Accessories: Keep accessories to a minimum. A good-quality watch and a belt that matches your shoes are usually enough.
4. Proper Grooming: Keep your hair neat and trimmed, and facial hair should be well-groomed.
5. Clothing Maintenance: Ensure your clothes are always clean, wrinkle-free and in good repair.

For Women:

1. Formal Attire: Opt for a tailored suit, dress, or blouse paired with a skirt or trousers. Stick to neutral colours and subtle patterns.
2. Appropriate Footwear: Choose closed-toe shoes or professional-looking heels. Ensure they are clean and in good condition.
3. Minimalist Jewellery: Choose minimalist jewellery like small earrings, a delicate necklace, or a simple bracelet.
4. Professional Bag: Choose a professional-looking bag in a neutral colour that’s large enough to hold your essentials without being bulky.
5. Conservative Makeup: Opt for a natural and conservative makeup look.
6. Hair and Nails: Keep your hair neat and styled, and nails should be clean, and if painted, choose a neutral colour.

In general, power dressing is about looking polished, professional, and put-together. It’s about dressing in a way that commands respect and shows that you take yourself and your job seriously. Remember, your personal style is also important – so within these guidelines, find ways to express your own personality.

• Stay Confident, Not Overconfident: Confidence is key, but overconfidence can be harmful. If faced with new challenges, it’s crucial, to be honest, confident, and proactive in finding solutions.

Exuding confidence without crossing over into overconfidence is a delicate balancing act. Here are some useful tips:

1. Express Certainty, but Remain Open-minded: Be clear and assertive in your statements, demonstrating your knowledge. However, always remain open to others’ ideas and perspectives, acknowledging that you don’t have all the answers.
2. Admit Mistakes: A confident person isn’t afraid to acknowledge their mistakes or shortcomings. By admitting errors, you demonstrate that you view them as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than as threats to your self-image.
3. Active Listening: Show confidence by actively listening to others, indicating that you value their input and don’t feel threatened by differing opinions. This means not interrupting, making appropriate eye contact, and offering feedback or commentary that shows you’ve genuinely considered their points of view.
4. Body Language: Maintain an open and relaxed posture. Stand tall, make eye contact, and offer a firm handshake. This displays confidence without being aggressive or domineering.
5. Speak Clearly and Calmly: Speak at a measured pace, articulating your thoughts clearly and deliberately. This indicates self-assuredness and makes people more likely to take you seriously.
6. Prepare Thoroughly: The more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll feel. This includes preparing for meetings, presentations, and even casual conversations.
7. Practice Self-care: Exercise regularly, eat healthily, get plenty of sleep, and take time for relaxation and recreation. When you feel good physically, it’s easier to feel confident.
8. Seek Feedback: Regularly ask for feedback from colleagues, managers, and others. This demonstrates that you’re confident enough to handle criticism and eager to improve.

Remember, confidence comes from a place of authenticity. It’s about knowing your worth and abilities and not being afraid to express them, while simultaneously remaining humble, respectful, and considerate of others.

Personality and Soft Skills in Managerial Role

Managerial and soft skills development also deals with personality and soft skills, that is, how one should present themselves internally. While everyone wants to look good and deliver an excellent performance, what matters most is how kind and good-hearted one is.

Being kind, genuine, and considerate leaves an incredible impression and has a lasting impact on others.

There’s an inspiring tale that perfectly illustrates the importance of personality and soft skills in leadership, featuring none other than the legendary business magnate and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger.

In the early 2000s, Disney found itself in a difficult position. It was facing a series of setbacks including declining profits, a struggling animation department, and a dwindling creative spark. To make matters worse, the company was also struggling with a hostile takeover bid. As the newly appointed CEO in 2005, Iger had his work cut out for him.

Iger believed in the power of storytelling and saw potential in Disney’s animation department. He knew that reviving it was critical to bringing the Disney magic back to life. His personality and soft skills were to play a significant role in achieving this. He decided to approach the highly successful Pixar Animation Studios for a partnership.

Pixar, led by Steve Jobs, had been in a distribution deal with Disney but had a tense relationship with the company due to disagreements with Iger’s predecessor. Jobs was initially resistant to even discussing a renewal of the contract. But Iger was determined. Leveraging his exceptional interpersonal skills and demonstrating genuine respect for Pixar’s creative culture, he managed to re-engage Jobs in negotiations.

Iger was transparent, honest, and made it clear that he valued Pixar’s contribution to animation. He used his diplomatic skills to resolve the previous tensions and was assertive yet respectful in his interactions. His approach resonated with Jobs. In their meetings, Iger’s genuine interest in fostering creativity, combined with his humility and sincerity, made a strong impression on Jobs.

The two ended up not just renewing the contract but in 2006, Disney acquired Pixar for $7.4 billion. This partnership breathed new life into Disney’s struggling animation division and led to a streak of blockbuster hits, including ‘Up’, ‘Wall-E’, and ‘Toy Story 3’.

Disney’s success story under Iger’s leadership showcases how managerial soft skills can help steer an organisation through rough waters. Iger’s emotional intelligence, respect for creative talent, humility, and communicative transparency were crucial in restoring Disney’s place in the industry.

So, the tale of Bob Iger’s stint as the CEO of Disney offers aspiring managers an excellent example of how soft skills and the right attitude can make a significant impact. After all, it’s not just about being a manager; it’s about being a leader who inspires and brings out the best in others.

The Importance of Managerial Soft Skills in BBA

As can be seen, managerial soft skills development is an important subject taught in BBA education. It serves as a pillar of BBA, assisting in shaping students into good managers and wonderful individuals. It focuses on behaviour and how one should conduct themselves in the workplace. In a business organisation, they want employees or managers to work at their best, and this subject helps in attaining that level of perfection.