16 Business Unit Manager Skills for Your Career and Resume

A business unit manager is responsible for the overall performance of a business unit within an organization. Business unit managers must have a variety of skills to be successful in this role, including leadership, strategic planning, financial management and communication. If you are interested in becoming a business unit manager, understanding these skills is essential to your success.

Business Process Improvement

Business unit managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of their departments. This includes ensuring that employees have the resources they need to complete their work and that processes are efficient and effective. Business unit managers who possess strong business process improvement skills can help their teams streamline their workflow, reduce inefficiencies and increase productivity.

Customer Relationship Management

Customer relationship management is the ability to build and maintain relationships with customers. This skill can be useful in your role as a business unit manager because it allows you to understand what your customers want, how they feel about your company’s products or services and how you can improve their experience. Customer relationship management skills can help you develop strategies that encourage customer loyalty and increase sales.

Problem Solving

Problem solving is the ability to identify and address issues that may arise in your role. As a business unit manager, you likely oversee multiple departments or teams, each of which may have unique challenges. Your problem-solving skills allow you to assess situations, determine potential solutions and implement them effectively. This can help you maintain productivity and ensure employee satisfaction.

Influencing

A business unit manager needs to be able to influence others in order to get things done. They may need to persuade other managers or executives to approve projects, budgets and initiatives that they believe will help the company grow. They also need to convince their team members to work together on a project so everyone can contribute effectively.

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is the ability to develop and implement goals for your department or company. Strategic planners are able to identify what their organization needs, how they can meet those needs and what resources they need to achieve success. Strategic planning requires attention to detail and an understanding of organizational objectives. It also requires you to be a creative problem-solver who can devise innovative solutions to challenges that may arise during implementation.

Communication

Communication is the ability to convey information clearly and concisely. As a business unit manager, you may need to communicate with employees at all levels of an organization. You can use your communication skills to relay instructions or feedback on performance, provide status updates to supervisors and present data in meetings. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for this role.

Change Management

Change management is the ability to oversee and implement changes in organizational structure, processes or procedures. Business unit managers often have to manage change because companies are constantly evolving and adapting to new technologies, market conditions and consumer demands. Effective change management requires an understanding of why a company needs to make a change, how it will affect employees and what outcomes they hope to achieve.

Strategic Thinking

Strategic thinking is the ability to see how your actions can affect a larger goal. As a business unit manager, you may need to make decisions that impact multiple departments or teams. Strategic thinking allows you to consider how each decision affects the company’s overall goals and objectives. This skill also helps you develop plans for achieving those goals and objectives.

Budgeting

Budgeting is the process of creating financial plans for a company. As a business unit manager, you may be responsible for managing budgets for your department or team. Having strong budgeting skills can help you make informed decisions about how to spend money and ensure that your organization remains financially stable. You can also use your budgeting skills when creating proposals for new projects, as you may need to show potential investors how you plan to finance the project.

Financial Analysis

Financial analysis is the ability to interpret financial data and make informed decisions based on that information. Business unit managers often use financial analysis skills when creating budgets, evaluating revenue streams and making investment decisions. This can include analyzing the success of past business strategies or projects to determine if similar efforts are likely to be successful in the future.

Risk Management

Risk management is the ability to identify and minimize potential risks in a project. Business unit managers often use risk management when planning projects, as they may need to consider how to handle unforeseen circumstances that could affect their team’s success. For example, if an employee leaves the company, a business unit manager might create contingency plans for completing tasks or finding new employees.

Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is the process of managing a company’s supply and demand. It involves identifying what materials are needed, where they’re coming from and how to get them there. This skill can be useful for business unit managers because it allows them to oversee the production and distribution of products. For example, if an employee needs supplies to complete their work, a manager with supply chain skills can identify those resources and ensure they arrive on time.

Decision Making

A business unit manager needs to make decisions on a daily basis. These can include deciding which projects to pursue, how to allocate resources and what strategies to use in order to achieve company goals. Having strong decision-making skills allows you to make the best choices for your team and organization. You may also need to provide guidance to other managers who are making decisions about their own teams.

Project Management

Project management skills are necessary for business unit managers to have because they often oversee multiple projects at once. This can include overseeing the development of a new product, implementing changes in an existing product or creating a new process within their company. Having strong project management skills allows them to delegate tasks and responsibilities to others, track progress on each task and ensure that all deadlines are met.

Leadership

Leadership is the ability to motivate and guide others. Business unit managers often lead teams of employees, so it’s important that they have strong leadership skills. You can use your leadership abilities in this role by providing guidance for team members, creating a positive work environment and setting goals for the team to achieve.

Vendor Management

Vendor management is the ability to negotiate with suppliers and maintain positive relationships. This skill can be useful in your role as a unit manager because it allows you to ensure that your company has access to necessary resources at reasonable prices. It also ensures that you have an understanding of how materials are sourced, which may help you make informed decisions about sustainability efforts or other environmental initiatives.

How Can I Learn These Business Unit Manager Skills?

There are a few ways that you can learn the skills necessary to be a successful business unit manager. Many of these skills can be learned through on-the-job experience, working with other managers and observing their methods. There are also many books and online resources that can teach these skills. Finally, there are many management courses offered by colleges and universities that can give you the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to be successful in this role.