Key Takeaways
- General managers coordinate multiple business functions to meet goals.
- Strong communication, trust, and decision-making skills are essential.
- They need both technical and managerial abilities.
- Most reach the role through experience in lower management positions.
- The job is rewarding but comes with heavy responsibilities.
Thinking about a career that puts you at the center of business operations? General management might be the right fit. General managers lead organizations by coordinating teams, making strategic decisions, and ensuring that every department works together toward shared goals. This role requires a unique blend of leadership, problem-solving, and business insight.
Whether you’re exploring degree options or planning to get an MBA job, understanding what general management involves can help you decide if it’s the right path. Let’s look at what general managers do, how to become one, and what makes this career both challenging and rewarding.
What is General Management?
General management is the process of overseeing and coordinating various aspects of an organization to achieve its goals and objectives efficiently and effectively.
For example, the general manager of a retail store is responsible for overseeing the daily operations, managing staff, ensuring customer satisfaction, implementing marketing strategies, and optimizing inventory management to drive sales and profitability. They must decide on hiring, training, budgeting, and addressing customer concerns to ensure the store’s success and growth.
What Does a General Manager Do?
General managers wear many hats. Their responsibilities span across multiple functions, and they’re expected to make decisions that impact the entire organization. On any given day, they may shift between overseeing daily operations, guiding teams, managing budgets, and shaping long-term strategy.
They ensure that day-to-day activities run smoothly by monitoring workflows, resolving operational issues, and making sure resources are used effectively. At the same time, they lead and develop teams by hiring, training, and managing staff across departments.
Financial oversight is another critical part of the role. General managers create budgets, track expenses, and analyze financial reports to make sure the business remains profitable and sustainable. Beyond managing finances, they also play a key role in developing and implementing strategy.
To ensure progress, general managers continuously monitor performance and quality. They track key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess how well the organization is meeting its goals, identify areas for improvement, and implement changes to enhance efficiency and results. Communication is equally important—they act as a bridge between employees, executives, and external partners, keeping everyone aligned through updates, negotiations, and discussions that represent the organization’s best interests.
How to Become a General Manager?
Becoming a general manager requires a combination of education, experience, and skill development.
Here’s what you need to know about the path to this role.
Educational requirements
Most general managers hold at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, or a related field. These programs cover foundational topics like accounting, marketing, operations, and organizational behavior. Some positions, especially in larger companies or specialized industries, prefer or require a master’s degree. An MBA (Master of Business Administration) can strengthen your qualifications and open doors to higher-level roles.
Certifications can also improve your prospects. Programs like Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Manager (CM) demonstrate expertise and commitment to professional development.
If you’re interested in advancing your education, Potomac offers flexible MBA program options designed for working adults. You can build the skills needed for leadership roles while balancing your current job and personal commitments.
Essential skills required
Success in general management depends on mastering both soft skills and technical abilities.
Here’s what matters most:
Soft skills
In a modern workplace, soft skills not only complement an employee’s professional skills, but they have become quite crucial to building a successful career. Soft skills are even more important in professions that involve a great deal of management of human resources, as proper interaction with the latter is crucial for the success of an organization.
Thus, a general manager responsible for leading, encouraging, and motivating a team, needs to be at least transparent, trustworthy, and a great decision-maker.
Transparency
Transparency with employees has nowadays become a key aspect of a well-functioning business or organization. In this context, employees are interested to know what is going on in their workplace likewise how they are performing and contributing to the (non) growth of the company. That is why a good manager must be transparent and direct in communicating such information to their employees.
Trustworthiness
Together with transparency, trustworthiness is another crucial element of a well-functioning work environment. In this regard, employees need strong assurance that their management is honest with them and has their best interests in consideration. Having this in mind, general managers need to invest in building relationships with their employees that are primarily based on trust.
Decision-making
Great decision-making skills are vital for a successful career in general management, since general managers unavoidably make decisions on a daily basis. Such decisions vary from delegating daily tasks and deadlines to hiring and firing. Decisions at hand may not only impact a smaller team but the company and organization in general.
Consequently, a manager needs strong critical thinking skills in order to make rational decisions that benefit the company. Despite that, general managers need to be ready and willing to take responsibility for the decision they make.
Technical skills
The soft skills explained above are undoubtedly crucial in properly exercising a general manager position. However, a great general manager should also possess a number of technical skills.
Technical writing
A general manager will often need to convey complex information using plain language. This can only be achieved through good technical writing skills that consist of the ability to write clearly, free of errors, and grasp things quickly and easily enough.
In addition, technical writing skills will typically necessitate a broad knowledge of technology for general managers to constantly update themselves with new information and knowledge.
Project management
General managers will randomly find themselves managing various projects of the company they are engaged with. Being so, the ability to manage projects successfully is a critical skill a general manager shall possess.
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This allows them to gain a proper understanding of the scope and objectives of every project, evaluate the role, responsibility, and contribution of people engaged in the project, and accordingly allocate resources in different aspects of the project accordingly.
Planning and coordinating
General management involves a great deal of planning and coordination. In fact, these duties may come first in mind when talking about general management. In this sense, general managers need to possess excellent planning and coordinating skills in order to be able to plan and coordinate the operations of almost every unit of either public or private organization. This may include properly planning daily operations, using human and material resources in the right place, and coordinating employees’ tasks and responsibilities.
Do you think becoming general manager is something that would fit you? If so, it is time you reach your goals with Potomac’s advanced certificate in management.
Benefits of Becoming a General Manager
Pursuing a career in general management offers several advantages. Here’s what you can expect:
Salary
General managers earn competitive salaries that reflect the scope of their responsibilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for general and operations managers was $105,200 as of May 2023. Salaries vary based on industry, experience, and company size. General managers in industries like finance, manufacturing, and professional services often earn higher wages. Those with advanced degrees or specialized certifications may also command higher pay.
Job outlook
The job outlook for general managers remains steady. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for general and operations managers to grow 3% from 2023 to 2033, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth reflects the ongoing need for skilled leaders who can manage operations and drive business success across industries.
General management roles are available in nearly every sector, from healthcare and hospitality to retail and technology. This broad demand means you’ll have flexibility in choosing where to work and what kind of organization to join.
Is a Career in General Management the Right Choice for You?
General management can be a rewarding career if you enjoy leadership, problem-solving, and working across multiple areas of a business. This role is ideal for people who like variety in their work and want to make a meaningful impact on an organization’s success.
Consider whether you’re comfortable making decisions under pressure, managing competing priorities, and taking responsibility for outcomes. General managers need resilience and adaptability, as challenges and changes are part of the job. If you prefer focusing on one specialized area, other roles like project manager types or business manager might be a better fit.
Think about your long-term goals. General management opens doors to executive positions and broader leadership opportunities. It’s a role that requires continuous learning and development, but it also offers the chance to shape how an organization operates and grows.
If you’re motivated by leadership, enjoy working with diverse teams, and want a career that offers both challenge and opportunity, general management could be the right path for you.
Conclusion
General management is a dynamic and impactful career that puts you at the heart of business operations. From leading teams and managing budgets to developing strategy and solving problems, general managers play a critical role in driving organizational success. This career path requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a commitment to continuous learning.
If you’re ready to build the skills needed to succeed as a general manager, Potomac offers flexible programs designed for working adults. Explore our MBA program or check out our certificate programs to start building the credentials that will help you advance your career. Take the first step today and prepare to lead with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take to become a general manager?
The time it takes to become a general manager can vary widely depending on the industry, company, and individual’s qualifications. It typically requires several years of relevant experience, often ranging from 5 to 7 years or more.
What is the difference between a general manager and a CEO?
A CEO (Chief Executive Officer) is the highest-ranking executive in an organization and is responsible for setting the overall vision and strategy. A general manager oversees operations within a specific division, location, or function. In smaller companies, the CEO may also serve as the general manager, but in larger organizations, these are distinct roles with different scopes of responsibility.
Is a general manager higher than a director?
No, a general manager does not hold a higher position than a director. Generally, general managers report to directors of operations and are positioned below them in the company’s organizational structure.
