8 Reasons Why Marketers Should Complete a CMI Management Qualification

It’s usual for many business professionals, marketers included, to ascend through structural levels of an organisation often without any formal management training. In many organisations, managers are often appointed through internal promotions or because of experience in their industry – but, without proper formal training.

A promotion to marketing manager or director can, without diligence and support, lead to inappropriate appointments, poor management and in extreme cases, a breakdown in effective and harmonious team performance.

The problems facing first time managers

People being appointed to management positions for the first time can often experience

A lack of confidence or “imposter syndrome”
Struggles in adapting to new responsibilities
Uncertainty around procedures, particularly in managing others
Difficulty making tough decisions, especially involving people who were previously peers
Lack of enjoyment in the role because it is a step away from what they were good at
Feeling excluded from others at work because they are the “boss”
Disobedience or disloyalty from team members who may have been unsuccessful in being promoted
Poor skills or confidence when communicating from a management perspective.

Management courses, like those offered by the Chartered Management Institute can help marketers who are already facing challenges achieving buy-in because of the vocational choice, to at least be able to manage effectively.

What is typically covered in a management course?

There are a range of techniques and skills that need to be learned and applied in successfully managing people and achieving stated organisational objectives. By consciously learning why and how to manage, inspire and if necessary discipline people, students of management courses become significantly better managers.

You’ll typically learn a host of techniques to help you get the best from people and help them to understand and appreciate how they can play a part in the organisation’s success.

CMI courses involve modules that look at all aspects of management – from defining what good management looks like, the entire HR arc from recruitment through performance review through dealing with conflict, to managing change, to managing finance and much more.

How would a CMI management qualification help you as a marketing manager achieve your objectives and develop your career further?

Consider these eight ways completing a CMI qualification will have far-reaching implications on your career as a senior marketer.

1. Better understand your role as a marketing manager or director

Whether you are an aspiring, first-time or experienced marketing manager, it can sometimes be difficult to gauge exactly where you sit and what your role is within the wider organisation.

Completing a management course can help you understand exactly what the role of the manager is, how you fit into your organisation and help you develop management techniques to continuously deliver results.

Are you a current Manager or an aspiring Manager? Check out the CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management & Leadership by clicking here.

Are you a manager with experience or a future leader? Check out the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management, click here.

2. Improve your communication skills

Communication is essential as a marketing leader – if you aren’t able to successfully convey what you need from people who report to you, peers in other teams and other managers, they cannot deliver it.

As most managers tend to be appointed because of their industry or vocational skills rather than management abilities, they often lack the experience in communicating as a leader.

A CMI management course can help you improve both your written and spoken communication so you can have more productive conversations with team members and stakeholders, and deliver more confident and engaging presentations when required. This helps you deliver better results with your team and communicate more powerfully with your C-suite.

3. Improve your decision-making

Marketing managers have to make lots of decisions as part of their day-to-day role.

The more challenging decisions around issues like staffing and employee appraisal come with wide-reaching consequences that impact many individuals. It is especially important to be able to make decisions in confidence and to be able to rationalise why if queried.

CMI management courses at all levels offer methods and models for making decisions, especially those that may cause or be arise from conflict, and these techniques will help you to make them in an informed and timely manner.

4. Improve your productivity and performance

The ability to lead individuals and teams to success is the primary objective of any manager. Marketing managers are not only responsible for their own performance, but also for the performance of their whole team, ensuring everyone is productive and on track is key to the role.

CMI management courses equip marketers in management roles with the knowledge to identify priorities and set SMART objectives. After completion, you will better understand how to set team and individual goals, allocate tasks, delegate responsibility and monitor delivery so your team’s productivity and performance is enhanced.

Are you a current Manager or an aspiring Manager? Check out the CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management & Leadership by clicking here.

Are you a manager with experience or a future leader? Check out the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management, click here.

5. Manage change effectively

Change is inevitable in business – especially in the composition of a marketing team. As a marketing with a team, you’ll need to help manage these changes and respond in a way that keeps your team confident and productive.

CMI management courses give you the skills to manage change, achieve set objectives, and to do so in a professional manner with open and honest communication throughout the entire process.

6. Get comfortable with impartial feedback

Managers are required to see past agendas and internal bias in giving and receiving feedback. This can be notoriously difficult especially for a marketing manager who has been promoted and now oversees people who were previously peers. And even more so for marketing, which can have a strained perception in lots of organisations.

That relationship needs to be reformed, as does a new relationship with people who used to be more senior but may now have become peers.
As a manager, it is important to always look to improve by seeking honest and impartial feedback on your abilities and performance. This can then extend to improving your team. And ultimately delivering a better marketing function for your organisation.

CMI management courses include impartial assessment of your understanding and practice of your new management skill set and opens you up to taking constructive criticism to improve.

7. Improve your team’s morale and confidence

Management is a two-way street. Your team needs to have confidence in you as their manager to enable them to respond effectively to your management techniques.

Completing a CMI management course and implementing the practices learned demonstrates that you are invested in developing as a manager which can give team members confidence in your abilities.

An investment in skills development can also help to boost team morale as it opens up doors for their own development in the future.

8. Improve career prospects and salary

There isn’t always a requirement for marketing managers to have a management qualification, however, when looking to progress or move roles it can be a significant advantage.

It is a highly competitive recruitment market, especially at the top end. Being able to demonstrate how you run high performing teams could tip a decision in your way.

Research from CMI has shown that a professional management qualification can make an individual 9% more employable and can lead to an additional £81,000 in earnings over a career.

Completing a CMI management course shows employers that you are committed to improving your abilities, willing to take on extra responsibilities, and have developed industry-leading management skills that can give you an advantage over other candidates.

Summary

A management qualification has numerous benefits for both you and your employer.

If you’re interested in driving long-term business growth and being recognised worldwide as an inspiring marketing leader, it’s a great way to differentiate.

With CMI, you can study at your own pace and around work or home commitments using our always on digital platform.

Are you a current Manager or an aspiring Manager? Check out the CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management & Leadership by clicking here.

Are you a manager with experience or a future leader? Check out the CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management, click here.