Advancing in Management Andy Chapman Eng147 October 13, 2014 Susan Honea Advancing in Management When a person advances in his or her career, it is necessary to know the steps involved in the process. A person seeking a promotion to a management position must acquire certain skills to progress and become successful. He or she must comprehend the responsibilities and duties for each management position. A person should consider if achieving an advanced education is beneficial to enhance skill sets and increase the chances of advancing in a career. Even though, not all management levels require a degree, a promotion is difficult to obtain without an education and the skills learned during the education process. An employee can progress through three levels of management - with various positions at each - throughout his or her career. The entry level includes crew leaders, supervisors, office managers, and department managers. The mid-level consists of branch managers, divisional managers, and operations manager. The executive level includes CFOs, CEOs, presidents, and vice presidents. Managers at each level occupy different quantities of time on four managerial tools of developing, shaping, running and directing an organization (Simmering, 2006, p.500). Every manager within an organization is just as important as the next, but a person must develop the skills and knowledge necessary for career advancement. Management skills required at each level involves setting goals. Executive managers must possess organizational abilities and provides motivation to subordinates. All managers must exhibit five critical skills: mechanical skills, communication skills, theoretical skills, analytical skills, and diplomatic skills (Simmering, 2006, p.501). The most important attribute for entry and middle level managers is the ability to lead others. The role of the executive-level