Developing Managerial Skills and Strengths

This project report highlights the significance of developing manager skills to support organizational success. It discusses two organizations, Thomas Cook and TUI, and their different management styles. The report also defines various management skills and personal strengths/weaknesses in a Clay Crown Hotel and Frankie & Benny's restaurant context. By understanding how to lead and motivate employees, managers can achieve goals and objectives.

The Developing Manager

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Comparison of different management styles.........................................................................1
1.2 Characteristics of leadership.................................................................................................2
1.3 Evaluation of communications processes.............................................................................3
1.4 analysing organisational culture and change in the organisation..........................................4
Task 2 ..............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Assessment of own management skills performance............................................................4
2.2 Analysis of personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats................................6
2.3 Set objectives and targets to develop the own potential.......................................................7
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Lead and motivate a team for achieving agreed goals or objectives.....................................7
3.2 Justifications of managerial decisions made to support tom achieve goals and
recommendation for improvements............................................................................................8
Task 4...............................................................................................................................................9
4.1 Managerial and personal skills that support in career development.....................................9
4.2 Review career and personal development needs, current performance to produce
development plan........................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
In the present scenario, every firm uses change management tools for dealing with
various changing system that occur at the workplace. The developing manager is defined as the
process of crafting in which includes improvement of skills or knowledge for managing business
operations and its functions to achieve professional and personal goals or objectives. This report
will compare two organisations i.e. Thomas cook and TUI. They use different management
styles for maintaining the standard as well as flow of services to meet the desired customer's
expectation and satisfy to staff members (Abrahamsson, 2017). It will also defined
characteristics of effective leadership for effective operations. In further task, report will be
based on Clayton crown hotel London which is a brand of Dalata Hotel Group, so it defines
management skills as well as SWOT analysis of managers. On the other side report will concern
regarding Frankie & Benny's restaurant and it is going open in Stratford, London. In this, how a
manager motivate to a team for achieving goals or objectives. It also justify the managerial
decisions for achieving agreed goals and provide some recommendation for improvement. It will
explain personal skills which support in career development and also produce its plan for
employees benefits.
TASK 1
1.1 Comparison of different management styles
Travel and tourism industry is growing fast in the present era and contributing in national
GDP of UK. Thomas Cook and TUI; both organisations are providing better quality of products
and services by adopting various strategies regarding management styles and managing available
resources. There are different management styles which are as follows:
Coercive management style: It is also called as directive leadership style and in this,
leaders play a vital role in providing directions or give command to the employees as well as full
control on them so that they can work in an effective manner for achieving company's goals and
objectives. TUI Travel and Tourism Company generally adopts this type of management style
for running their organisation (Aulton and Taylor, 2017). This may not be suitable for the
employees as in this, they do not get much freedom and can feel pressure so that it is not
accepted by them. Company can face higher turnover of employees due to unsatisfactory.
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Active management style: This type of leadership style is more effective as managers
believes that leading to employees in efficient way and support them to do work so that they will
feel more comfortable and perform their task in sufficient manner under the manager. Thomas
Cook and Sons company focus on this management style for achieving competitive advantages
and run the business operations (Allen, 2012). Manager also cares about their employees as they
do not push or force them to do complicated as well as extra work within firm. He believes in
satisfying the employees by motivating and providing benefits for keeping employees happy.
Managers always try to get work done in high quality and productivity. Motivations and
satisfaction of employees are very important for successful organisation.
Autocratic management style: it is defined as that manager who makes all over decision
regarding the business organisation without any involvement of others. Under this, leaders take
decision without the consent of their employees. They do not feel necessary to indulge worker in
decision making process. They only believes in possessing higher authority on them. No one is
allow to challenge their decision. These decisions reflects on manager's personality, opinion,
confidence etc. this management style is use in the critical situations as temporarily where
discussion is unavailable and managers takes responsibilities for giving such orders. TUI
organisation generally consider this style while making immediate decisions.
Democratic management style: In this management style, manager allow to each
individual to take part while making decision, so that every employees are agreed due to
majority. There are two way communications in this style. It is very useful when making
complex decisions because every individual take part in decision-making process. This style is
often known as participative leadership style. Under this, leaders values the contribution of their
workers and makes them feel important. They also include them in their decision-making process
which increases their motivation level and retains them for longer period.
1.2 Characteristics of leadership
Thomas Cook and Sons is the biggest firm in travel and tourism sector because their
manager keeps all staff members who are working under him motivated, satisfied and disciplined
for achieving organisational pre-determined goals and objectives as well as increase customer’s
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satisfaction level. There are various qualities of a manager which he should possess within
company for improving better performance of employees and hotel such as:
Friendly behaviour: According to junior consultant, I can be suggest to a manager that
behave like a friend with all employees or entire team members working under him/ her. It will
support in building strong relations among people and also in creating healthy environment for
effective working conditions so that employees can be able to put some efforts to achieve
business goals. This will create a friendly environment where people can put or share any
problems, issues regarding work place in front of manager and he can take favourable decisions.
Further it also lead to build great rapport and trust among employee and employer which is
necessary to carry out all activities in a significant manner.
Communications skills: This is also another important skill for successful organisation as
manager should be able to share information and proper communication with their employees
because managers have to deal with all staff members and customers for business purpose
(Arends, 2014). There should be required as calm and polite behaviour with people in the
Thomas cook and sons. It makes easier for employees to share their feeling and view point with
their employers.
Motivators: As consultant, I can give suggestion about motivations as managers should
be an effective or good motivator who has power to get work done and have knowledge how to
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Illustration 1: characteristics of leadership
Source: Characteristics of leadership 2018

keep employees motivated. He can motivate to them by various ways as providing awards and
rewards to the better performer for increasing their morale and improve performance. They
should encourage to individual for performing much better. It results in increasing their overall
performance and productivity which results in yielding higher profits and revenues.
Disciplined and focused: Managers should manage discipline within the organisation and
he must be focused towards its goals and objectives so that they can get best outcomes and
achieve competitive advantages.
Strategic thinking: it is defined as the process of mental and thinking which arr applied
by an individual for the purpose of achieving predetermined goals and objectives. It is generally
concerned with making strategies regarding the business such as bringing new ideas and
innovation as well as make marketing strategies for surviving from strong competitors.
Supportive thinking: it is related with the nature or behaviour of an individual regarding
the team workforce as well as provide motivations to the employees for performing effective task
or work towards goals or objectives. Manager ensure about adopting new ideas or innovation and
bring changes within the firm and also support to every employees for accepting all these in
appropriate manner.
1.3 Evaluation of communications processes
Communication process is one of the key aspects for successful organisation in the travel
and tourism sector. It helps in maintaining the flow of services within firm. This is also
supportive to maintain the planning of various activities as per the trends and needs of the at
different level of an organisation (Arnold and Boggs, 2015). It is defined as the interaction
between staff members and management regarding information and collection of feedbacks so
that they can identify issues or problems as well as adopt the effective business strategies for
Thomas Cook. This organisation is using following communications process which is different
from TUI, for the purpose of sharing and managing information as well as keep their staff up to
date such as:
Downward communication: In this type of process, communication flows from higher or
top level management to lower level employees. Top management convey messages and share
information such as organisational policies, orders, instructions to the lower workers by using
various media like emails, notice boards, written latter etc. it can also possible by organising
meeting between senior managers and employees.
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Upward communication: It is the opposite of downward communication as in this, lower
level workers can communicate with their senior management staffs. This is called two way
communication process. Employees provide information regarding their daily or weakly reports
to the top managers and they also take support from emails as well as status calls. In the Thomas
cook and sons company, staff members support in providing inputs and share their information
with managers so that relations can be maintained in effective manner (Babbie, 2013). This type
of process is must be required in the travel and tourism industry because it deals in service
market in which direct interaction and communications with customers and employees that helps
in increasing better satisfaction level.
Horizontal communication: It is an essential part of effective communication as in this,
flow of informations between management and employee at same level. Thomas cook and sons
use these communications process in which team members have to interact with each other for
the purpose of achieving pre-determine goals and objectives. It is must be required to make a
friendly and healthy environment at the work place as well as in a team for proper functioning of
Thomas cook industry and its operations.
1.4 analysing organisational culture and change in the organisation
For successful organisation, culture plays an important role as it is useful for employees
motivation. In this includes various aspects such as values, visions, norms, beliefs, language and
habits of the work force which are considered in the Thomas cook and sons. This company
adopted effective culture so that employees can work or perform in better working environment.
It also includes several ways of work place in which team members interact with each other and
share information as per the culture (Bianchi, 2011). Thomas cook used two types of
organisation culture which is helpful in achieving competitive advantages and these are as
follows:
Hierarchical organisation culture: it is very beneficial because it helps in making
organisation and its work culture in effective manner. Thomas Cook use this culture due to huger
workforce so it is useful for the company. There are large numbers of employees who follow
these culture for making work easy and handle any issues in better ways. In hierarchical
structure, senior manager or a team member mange their employees and maintain junior
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members working under them. It is helps in defining clear goals and objectives to the employees
so that they can achieve it in sufficient manners.
Clan organisational culture: This culture is very useful in the Thomas cook because
they deals in service sector as well as hospitality industry and they do not have huge numbers of
employees at the workforce in the hotel and restaurant. Employees can communicate or share
their information to the other staff as they live like family members in the work place. They also
help to each other so that better relations can be build and maintain (Cavanagh, 2012). Team
members always support to the entire staff and ready to take responsibilities of others in their
absence.
Task 2
2.1 Assessment of own management skills performance
There are various qualities and management skills which must be needed in a manager
for managing entire workforce and business operations. I as a manager, have to perform several
duties and responsibilities in the Clayton Crown Hotel London. I also required to maintain the
relations among employees so that performance can be improve and achieve organisational goals
and objectives in sufficient manner. Some skills are needed for managing the Hotel and its
activities such as:
Proper communications: This is the key element of the successful business that helps in
meet desired outcomes. I also consider this factor as provide information and share ideas, views
with people in the Clay Crown Hotel. It will support in removing any kinds of barriers or
conflicts and create healthy relations among people so I should have this skills for
communicating with my colleagues as well as customers in effective way (Cummings, 2014). It
concern with appropriate verbal communications or spoken language which must be carried out
in effective manner.
Decision-making ability: This is another important skills which is requires for handling
from various situations as well as survive from any circumstances. Therefore, I will posses my
skills in taking best decision at right time. It is the responsibility of manager to make favourable
decisions regarding any issues and it must be beneficial for both employees and organisation. In
this, I need to consider employees management, motivation and adoptions of strategies whenever
requires.
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Problem solving skills: A good manager should have quality to solve any kind of
problems in various situations which would be favourable for business so that he can manage
entire operations. I as manager, resolve several types of issues or queries in the Clay Crown
Hotel for maintaining effective working environment and achieve its set targets and objectives. I
have an ability to provide ultimate solutions of defining problems. It will be like an opportunity
for me to show my talents in critical circumstances.
Leadership skills: This quality is very necessary for every firm. As it is the ability to
lead all workers and motivate them to performance better for organisational goals. I have the
quality to influence human behaviour and get work done in appropriate manner (David, 2011). I
also adopt various leadership styles for managing people and improve their performance.
There are some assessment of own skills such as:
Skills Rating
Communications
skills
I have fluent communications skills so it is rated number 1
Problem solving
skills
I have knowledge about solving any critical problem in several situations
so it can be rated number 2
Decision-making
ability
I can make any decision regarding the strategies adoption and taking
corrective actions, so it is rated as number 2
Leadership skills I can influence people and get work done by motivating them so it is rated
as number 3
2.2 Analysis of personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
From above the questions, I assess my own personal skills so I found various strengths
and weaknesses as well as opportunities and threats that can be support in improving my skills
and knowledge and personal development. These are as follows:
Strengths:
 I have some managerial skills that can be applicable in Clay Crown Hotel such as
communications and decision-making skills which are my biggest strengths and helpful
in my future career.
 I am able to encourage and motivate to employees for completing task in sufficient
manner which is also my strength.
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 As a manager, I can handle any problem because I am self motivated person so that able
to take risks in the business organisation.
 I just believe to lead all employees for maintaining workforce.
 I can be a good mentor or coach by having quality to motivate employees.
Weaknesses:
 The biggest weakness of mine is that I am not good speaker as not able to speak on front
of people because of less experience in public speaking. I am improving myself and
working hard for removing these types of issues so that I have joined some coaching
classes.
 Another weakness of mine is short temper as I use to feel stressful and get irritated very
soon from any issues so that I am working on this matter and try to overcome these
weaknesses. I also joined meditation classes for peace.
Opportunities:
 There are various scope and opportunities in the hospitality industries because it is fast or
rapid growing industries in the world. So I can get advantages and achieve my future
growth.
Threats:
 Big organisation's manager from hospitality industries can be a threat for me because
they can foster my growth in the future. So competitors are biggest threats.
 Some environmental as well as external factors can be threat to the career development.
Forces can be recessions, poor economic growth and any other factors of environment.
2.3 Set objectives and targets to develop the own potential
` There are several organisation that set their prioritise and objectives and make strategies
to achieve those in set time period. Clay Crown Hotel also must be required to set the targets and
objectives because it is very important (Griffin 2013). As a manger, I need to analyse various
opportunities that are available for me and try to gain them all by using my own skills and
abilities. Therefore, I have made development plan and made strategies for improving my
leadership and communications skills. I have cleared some managerial concepts and try to
improve my theoretical knowledge and perform better. I can apply that knowledge in practical
environment and situations so that I can make effective decisions. In upcoming years, I see
myself as a good team leader in Clay Crown hotel and try to develop this organisation as well as
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increase its brand image for competing with strong competitors such Hotel Marriot and Hilton
etc.
During these years, I will improve my weaknesses and try to overcome all these by
continuously focusing on meditation, yoga classes and control on myself whenever get anger. So
that I can achieve competitive advantages of the hospitality industries and make effective
working environment by providing better services to the customers.
Task 3
3.1 Lead and motivate a team for achieving agreed goals or objectives
As per this case study, I as manager perform several task and manage the entire team
workforce in the Frankie & Benny's restaurant for achieving its set targets and objectives as well
as agreed goals (Jones and Jones, 2013). I have to develop a strategies for building effective team
and motivate to members so that they will able to attain best outcomes. I also required to focus
on customers satisfactions by providing qualitative services to them. I will use several activities
for this restaurant to achieve its objectives such as:
Team building: This is the major component for getting success because it must be
required to build and maintain strong team for special purpose that will support in meeting
customer's needs and expectation. I will appoint skilled person for making effective team so that
they will perform better and work hard to achieve targets. A strong team or group can be build
through analysing employee's abilities, working capacities, knowledge so that I can assign them
task according to their skills.
Motivations: It is helpful tool in boosting employees morale and encourage them to
complete the task in effective manner (Leach-Kemon, 2011). In this, I will provide appropriate
support and understand employee's needs or wants so that they will focus on their performance. I
will try to maintain discipline for dealing with any circumstances and motivate to team members
by increasing their confidence level to survive and accept the changes or work hard. I will
understand my responsibilities and duties and maintain the relations among employees towards
organisational goals and objectives in the future.
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3.2 Justifications of managerial decisions made to support tom achieve goals and
recommendation for improvements
Frankie and Benny's restaurant's manager should requires to motivate and support to all
staff members and use different motivations theories to keep them motivated and happy. It will
support to the employees to be able in seeing potential growth in this restaurant and they will
work very hard in order to get incentives, awards and promotions. Agreed goals and objectives
can be achieve by creating healthy environment within the organisation by adoptions of effective
motivational tools and techniques (Leonard, 2011). Managers must be ensure regrading quality
of services so that number of customers can be attracted towards restaurants. There are some
recommendation for the for the Frankie and Benny's restaurant which will helps in improving
their business environment and keep customers as well as employees satisfied.
Recommendation:
Employees should be able to learn some new skills and well trained for acquiring the
team building skills which are must be required in every business firm because it helps in
running effective organisation and its operations in a proper manner. Here, I found that there
must be appropriate training and coaching that should be given to all staff members regarding
hoe to behave with different customers that will also support in their personal development. In
the sector of travel & tourism and hospitality industry, interpersonal and communications skills
are very important. Managers should make effective policies for employees welfare without any
discriminations regarding religion, age, sex etc.
Task 4
4.1 Managerial and personal skills that support in career development
As a manager of Clay Crown Hotel, I have to build my personal and professional skills.
This hotel industry provides various opportunities as well as career objectives for every
individual (Allen, 2012). Employees can achieve higher growth for their future development. I
have required various managerial skills so that I can contribute for getting organisation success
such as:
Communications skills: This skill is very important for providing information and
guidelines to the workers regarding organisation. It is essential of personal and operational
development which helps in building strong relationship among employees (O'Neill, 2015). I
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should learn different language for dealing with customers and also must be improve verbal
communications.
Leadership skills: This skill will support to me in providing guidelines or directions to
the employees towards company's goals and objectives. I have to learn about dealing with
different kinds of people so that I can analyse training and developing program to the employees.
Time management: For the organisational development, time management play
important role for managing entire activities of the business. I will consider this factor and
schedule whole procedure according time as extra work loads can be reduce through this. Due to
lack of time management skills, I am facing various kinds of problems and issues at my
workplace.
4.2 Review career and personal development needs, current performance to produce
development plan
I have various skills and abilities to manage the business activities and operations but I
am not satisfied that is why I need to improve my personal and professional skills and to meet
my career objectives (Arends, 2014). It will support to me in achieving higher positions at
workforce and I also requires to develop an appropriate plan so that I can gain long term as well
as short term goals and objectives. I have to focus on my weaknesses and try to overcome all
these so that I will be able to become a successful manager and leader. I have prepared a future
development plan to fulfil my needs and wants such as:
 I will improve my technical skills and apply in the business to make better actions.
 There are some software skills which is required for managing employees relations such
as CRM (customers relationship management).
 I will try to build strong and effective team and also become a good leader.
Therefore, these skills improvement will help to me in developing my own skills and becoming a
good manager in the organisation (Arnold, 2015). This will also support in achieving competitive
advantages.
CONCLUSION
From above the project report, it has been concluded that the developing manager is
essential that support to the organisation in getting success. Mangers have to perform various
task and activities like planning, directing, implementing and controlling of the business
operations. In this project, two organisation Thomas cook and TUI discussed and their different
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management styles which are adopted by them as coercive and active management. This report
also defined several management skills and personal strengths & weaknesses in the Clay Crown
Hotel. It helps in defining that how to lead and motivate employees in the Frankie & Benny's
restaurant so that goals or objectives can be achieved.
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Characteristics of leadership 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://support.therapytribe.com/the-characteristics-of-leadership/>.
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