Adaptability, communication, negotiation, conflict resolution... What do all these management skills, many of them known as "soft skills", have to do with the management of sports organisations?
Although when we talk about management, we tend to think of technical knowledge related to finance or administration, the truth is that management and team management skills are what differentiate a good manager. They help attract and retain talent, manage the emotional intelligence of the organisation and inspire employees to commit to overall goals and work as a team to achieve them.
Like other types of companies, sports organisations also need effective leaders who put their management skills at the service of the organisation. For this reason, the Online MBA in Sports Management at Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid - Universidad Europea not only offers training in the more technical aspects of management. It also has subjects specifically dedicated to the development of management and leadership skills in the sports sector, which are what make the difference when it comes to boosting your career in the field.
There is some agreement on what are considered basic management skills. Among these, the most important for the management of a sport entity and being a good leader in sport are the following:
Among all managerial skills, communication is one of the most important. It encompasses not only the ability to speak, but also active listening and non-verbal communication. Internally, it serves to unite teams and create an atmosphere of transparency. Externally, it allows reaching out to stakeholders or society at large, and has a key impact on the image of the organisation.
Negotiation involves listening to all parties and knowing how to find agreements that satisfy everyone. It is an essential skill, but difficult to master. In the management of sports companies, it serves to bring the members of the organisation into agreement and align their objectives with those of the entity. Outside the organisation, it is key to reaching agreements on everything from service contracts to player signings.
Adaptability is the ability to adjust behaviour in response to change. This ability is a key factor in resilience, as it allows you to react quickly to setbacks and explore alternative options to achieve your goals. In sport management, where managers are frequently confronted with unforeseen situations, this flexibility serves to reduce their impact and find new opportunities.
Related to negotiation skills, conflict resolution involves both the ability to pre-emptively avoid problems and the skills to resolve them once they occur. It is one of the skills of sport managers, and extremely important in the field of elite and high-performance sports, where the pressure on teams can lead to disputes.
Critical thinking is the ability to analyse information objectively, ask pertinent questions and form one's own opinion, leaving biases and prejudices behind. It is a logical process that provides a structured approach to problems that may arise in the management of sports organisations.
If critical thinking is used to analyse problems, creativity is used to find alternative solutions that make a difference and create a competitive advantage. As a managerial skill, it involves the ability of leaders to foster creativity in their teams and is a key driver of innovation.
Given their importance, there is a great deal of interest in learning management skills. But how do you study these skills? Can you learn creativity if you are not a creative person? The good news is that yes, and there are many management skills courses available. However, it is best to start with specialised quality training such as the MBA in Sports Management Real Madrid, which includes these skills in its syllabus and teaches them effectively applied to the world of sport.
This practical application is fundamental because, although theory and the different techniques can be studied, in order to internalise and consolidate management skills it is necessary to put them into practice. They are perfected with use and, if you are in sports management, they are what will help you to set yourself apart as a sports manager with a salary commensurate with your abilities.