For starters, take a good look at your management strengths and weaknesses. A gut-level, honest self-inventory of your time-management, planning and decision-making skills will help you see what areas you need to improve.
In regards to time management, do you know ahead of time what your appointments and issues are for the day? A good manager weighs the time requirements of his priorities before deciding which to tackle first. He also understands how to appropriately use technology to save time…for example, when to send an e-mail instead of stopping by someone’s office, or choosing a conference call over an on-site visit, etc. Your ability to concentrate and avoid distractions also says a lot about how you are able to manage your time and priorities.
Good managers also understand the importance of effective planning. Ideas that have been thoroughly planned typically flow much more smoothly and have better results than those that are carried out on the fly. Planning and researching objectives also helps to ensure that projects are correctly prioritized.
Finally, in regards to decision making, it’s important for managers to cover the fundamentals. Of chief importance is making sure you have a firm grasp of the situation. Would you be able to clearly articulate it to others not involved? Research the facts and ask questions of those who are closest to the situation. Make a list of all of the possible alternatives and briefly jot down the pros and cons of each. Of these, select the choice that you feel is best.