General Manager

Sometimes, running a business feels like running away with the circus. The CEO is the Ringmaster, serving up leadership, showmanship, and direction. The CFO, meanwhile, is a Tightrope Walker, constantly walking the delicate line between “in the red” and “in the black.” And then there’s the Board of Directors, comprised of Board Members acting as Aerialists, getting a bird’s-eye view of the business in order to strategically steer it.

As a General Manager, you’re the Juggler in your company’s figurative circus, as you’re the head of an individual business unit in your company, which requires “juggling” many different responsibilities. For instance, a General Manager might be the boss in charge of an individual store, hotel, or restaurant in a chain within the retail, hospitality, and foodservice industries; the senior-most Manager of a small business, reporting to its Mom-and-Pop owners; or the President of a single department or division in a large corporate entity.

In any case, a General Manager is basically a mini CEO, which requires managing virtually every aspect of the business in pursuit of strategic goals. For example, you oversee operations, including planning, processes, policies, and procedures; accounting, including budgeting and financial reporting; human resources, including hiring, training, and employee recognition; communications, including internal communication and external marketing, advertising, and PR; and administration, including scheduling, payroll, and paperwork.

Ultimately, as the General Manager, you’re the eyes, ears, and hands for a Small Business Owner, a CEO, or a Board of Directors: Their company is a cake that’s been cut into pieces based on geography, focus, or other factors, and they’ve named you the Caretaker of a single slice.