Effective management skills for business administrators

Successful leadership in a business administration role needs a blend of technical, interpersonal and strategic skills to run a successful business while earning the respect of your team and stakeholders.

What does a business administrator do?

In a nutshell, business administrators direct the activities of other people and take responsibility for meeting objectives as a result of their efforts. They act as the ‘backbone’ of an organisation, making sure that operations, strategy and HR management are all ‘singing from the same hymn sheet’. They manage many responsibilities and administrative tasks to improve the efficiency and health of a business, and they help it to develop and succeed.

As such, business administrators need to be something of a jack-of-all-trades: shrewd in traditional business knowledge and insights but equally unafraid of rapid adaptation in the fast-moving business environment. And of course, as the lynchpin of the organisation, strong leadership qualities are a key skill for business administration roles.

Harvard Business Review’s Robert L Katz says that effective business administration skills essentially fall into three main groups:

• Technical: ie having specialised knowledge and being good at specific activities, particularly those involving techniques, processes and procedures.
• Human: the ability to work effectively with people, as a group member and to build cooperative effort within the team the business administrator leads.
•  Conceptual: the ability to see the company or business as a whole, including recognising how the organisation’s functions depend on each other and how changes to one have knock-on effects upon the others. This also includes being able to visualise the organisation in the wider context of the industry, community, business landscape or as part of the economic forces of an entire nation.

Business administrators can work in a wide array of work environments, such as non-profit, government, healthcare, education, technology, hospitality, retail or sales.

What kind of people make good business administrators?

To succeed at this multi-faceted role, some of the soft skills and competencies that you’ll need are:

• Strong communication skills. Effective communication - verbal and written - but also active listening, negotiation, and the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, is central to effective business administration. You’ll also need interpersonal skills for conflict resolution, promoting teamwork, and making sure that all departments are aligned with the company's mission and values, says Teal.
• Integrity: At an individual level, this means being honest and trustworthy, consistent, professional, and making decisions ethically and in line with company values. But integrity is also important for effective leadership at the organisational level, for building an entire culture of integrity, adhering to regulations and laws and operating with fair and transparent governance.
• Empathy and emotional intelligence: Understanding and addressing the needs and concerns of team members is often an underestimated leadership skill. According to the Harvard Business School, 71 percent of recruiters value emotional intelligence more than technical skills when evaluating candidates: “If you aspire to be in a leadership role, there’s an emotional element you must consider. It’s what helps you successfully coach teams, manage stress, deliver feedback, and collaborate with others. It’s called emotional intelligence, and it's one of the most sought-after interpersonal skills in the workplace.”
• Resilience: Business Administrators are unflappable under pressure and have the leadership abilities to guide their teams through periods of change or uncertainty, keeping things stable and recovering quickly from setbacks.
• Vision: Having a clear idea of what the future of the organisation looks like and inspiring others to work towards it is a key part of strategic planning, decision making and being able to prioritise - all essential skills for good leaders.
• Adaptability: Being flexible and open to change in a dynamic business environment.
• Problem-solving skills: The ability to analyse situations, do some critical thinking, and come up with solutions that work is a must to excel in the fast-paced business world. Business administrators must be able to spot problems fast, weigh up alternative solutions, and take the best course of action to move forward.
• Project management and time management : working at the intersection of operations, strategy, and people management, administrative business leaders need to be on the ball when it comes to managing both time and competing priorities and projects, with razor sharp organisational skills.

How to become an effective business administration leader

Aspiring business administration leaders can follow a number of different paths to gain the skills, competencies and experience for success. As well as on-the-job training, self-reflection, attending workshops and seminars on relevant topics, and seeking mentoring from colleagues, Master’s level degrees such as an MBA or certification in Business Administration will stand you in good stead to pursue a career in business administration.

The 100% online MBA from Queen Margaret University aims to develop versatile and visionary leaders with the diverse business skills to navigate complexities, drive innovation and inspire teams on their way towards success. The MBA is designed for busy working professionals looking to advance their careers and deepen their knowledge in strategy, marketing, operations management, accounting and finance, human resource management, leadership, business analytics, and entrepreneurship. Enrol on this master’s degree and you’ll develop into a future senior manager, director or CEO who is socially responsible and capable of driving positive change.

The 100% online course, which can be studied from anywhere, also offers established industry connections worldwide and features regular guest lectures by experts from all over the world to enhance your learning experience. Find out more