A top manager (C-level manager) is a manager responsible for an area across the entire organization. This area is managed and strategically directed by this person. They also direct and organize work and lead people.
Top managers lead managers below them, middle level managers in medium and large companies, and first-line managers in small companies. Their main task is to determine the strategic direction of the managed area in accordance with the strategies of the entire organization. Implementation and operation management are the responsibility of lower level managers.
The main tasks of a top manager are:
- implement the company's strategy into daily activities and processes and ensure their compliance
- manage the entrusted organizational unit as a whole
- lead subordinate managers in their organizational unit
- lead subordinates in their team in daily assigned activities and tasks and organize their work
- to check the work outputs of people in the team
- resolve possible discrepancies and ambiguities at work and in the workplace
- solve operational problems that occur
Examples of top managers
- CEO (Chief Executing Officer) - company director, in the UK it is Managing Director
- CFO (Chief Financial Officer) - financial director
- COO (Chief Operating Officer) - operational director
- CIO (Chief Information Officer) - IT director
- CHRO (Chief HR Officer) - director of human resources
- CSO (Chief Sales Officer) - sales director
Responsibilities and duties of a top manager
Management of work and coordination of activities in the assigned area
- Manages the company's strategy in the assigned area
- Leads subordinate managers in their area of responsibility
- Manages the work, tasks and activities of the assigned team of people and area
- Coordinates assigned area across organization and other processes and maintains alignment with overall strategy
- They lead the workers in their team in the daily assigned activities and tasks and organizes their work
- They check the work outputs of people in the team
Approving requests
- They approve various requests and topics related to the managed area
- They approve the various demands of their people
- They approve the budget
Onboarding and adaptation of new managers
- They ensure the adaptation of new managers in their field
- Conducts interviews with new managers
Performance management and development of subordinate managers and other employees
- Performs performance evaluations of subordinate managers and other employees
- They create documents for the development of managers
- They lead subordinate managers and plan their development
- They identify knowledge gaps and facilitate training opportunities for subordinate managers
Solving situations and conflicts in the assigned area
- They resolve and moderate various situations that cannot be resolved at the level below them
- They solve problems that cannot be solved at a lower level of management
- Creates and maintains positive working relationships between managers and workers
- They mediate relations between managers
Human resources strategy
- Together with other managers, they determine strategic personnel needs
- They work with the HR department to define the future needs of the organizational unit
- Plans succession to key management positions
Other responsibilities of top management
- They ensure that their area develops in line with the company's strategy and supports it
- They mentor or coach directly subordinate members of their team
- They have oversight of the complete budget of the entrusted area
- They conduct team meetings of the management of the assigned area
- They communicate changes to the team
What you can do as a top level manager in Aptien
As a top manager, you have your direct subordinates set up in the organizational structure, with whom you can:
- Approve their requests
- See an overview of your people's tasks (under construction)
- See their employee record, personal information, onboarding, adaptation, training or other development plans
- See issued work equipment, tools and completed training and other information
You also have an overview of all the people in your organizational unit.