What is business leadership and management?

Leadership and management are the skillsets required of those in senior management positions. Leadership and management careers can be in virtually any industry, with a focus on business, with entry level positions such as a team leader or supervisor common pathways with a certificate level qualification. Leadership and management skills can include strong communication skills, understanding of work health and safety, and business planning.

Business leadership and management is a broad area that encompasses the skills and responsibilities of many business and managerialfocused roles within an organisation. Professionals working in this area assist in keeping the business running, growing the business or increasing specific business goals such as revenue growth, market penetration, competitive advantages, client management and more.

Professionals working within leadership or management roles are crucial to the success of an organisation. Working within a business role can mean a variety of things. Professionals can work on the administrative side, the operations side, the client or customer service side or the business development side. There are a multitude of roles someone with a business leadership or management qualification could fill, based on their strengths, transferable skills and career goals.

SKILLS THAT EMPLOYERS ARE LOOKING FOR IN BUSINESS LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

Employers are looking for professionals with the right technical skills in business, but also, the right transferable skills. Professionals who succeed in leadership and management roles are approachable, driven, able to work independently, excellent with people management and communication, possess stakeholder management skills and more. The ability to analyse data and create reports is also preferred by employers, who are seeking a professional to fit seamlessly into a business role.

HARD SKILLS

  • Digitally fluent
  • Detailed understanding of regulations, laws and quality standards
  • Able to use risk assessment and management software
  • Data analysis and report writing skills

SOFT SKILLS

  • Excellent people management and interaction skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Detail-oriented
  • Organised

TRAITS

  • Honest
  • Driven by integrity
  • Approachable
  • Diligent

JOB ROLES

General Manager

Average Salary
$204,000

Develops, manages and executes business operational plans. This role is responsible for leading and communicating effectively with their teams and having a high level of written communication. 

Business Manager

Average Salary
$115,000

Works on new strategies to increase business growth, manage client relationships and innovate new processes to improve efficiencies. This role is responsible for a variety of sectors within a business. 

Business Development Manager

Average Salary
$130,000

Specialises in business development activities. This role creates plans for business growth, analyses current processes and systems, optimises marketing and hiring strategies, and develops business solutions. 

Team Leader

Average Salary
$103,000

Manages communication and expectations between leadership and employees. This role involves task delegation, dispute resolution, employee management and driving team targets and efficiency. 

Office Manager

Average Salary
$74,000

Working as an office manager can see you working in a range of industries, from retail and warehousing to medical and professional services. This role is responsible for making an office and its people run efficiently.

Chief Executive Officer

Average Salary
$313,000

Specialises in executing business strategy, liaising with stakeholders and employees to effectively run a business. This role is responsible for the company’s overall management and business strategy.

Sales Representative

Average Salary
$86,000

Sells products or services for a company. This role may be in person, over the phone or online. Most sales representatives focus solely on converting interested people into customers, however they may assist customer service.

Business Associate

Average Salary
$81,000

Works across a range of responsibilities which may include administration, data analysis and reporting, documentation of processes, billing and improving business efficiency. 

Business Analyst

Average Salary
$109,000

Provides support to the business by documenting business requirements, processes and procedures. This role analyses data and reports and suggests ways to improve operations and achieve business goals.

General Manager

Average Salary
$204,000

Develops, manages and executes business operational plans. This role is responsible for leading and communicating effectively with their teams and having a high level of written communication. 

Business Manager

Average Salary
$115,000

Works on new strategies to increase business growth, manage client relationships and innovate new processes to improve efficiencies. This role is responsible for a variety of sectors within a business. 

Business Development Manager

Average Salary
$130,000

Specialises in business development activities. This role creates plans for business growth, analyses current processes and systems, optimises marketing and hiring strategies, and develops business solutions. 

Team Leader

Average Salary
$103,000

Manages communication and expectations between leadership and employees. This role involves task delegation, dispute resolution, employee management and driving team targets and efficiency. 

Office Manager

Average Salary
$74,000

Working as an office manager can see you working in a range of industries, from retail and warehousing to medical and professional services. This role is responsible for making an office and its people run efficiently.

Chief Executive Officer

Average Salary
$313,000

Specialises in executing business strategy, liaising with stakeholders and employees to effectively run a business. This role is responsible for the company’s overall management and business strategy.

Sales Representative

Average Salary
$86,000

Sells products or services for a company. This role may be in person, over the phone or online. Most sales representatives focus solely on converting interested people into customers, however they may assist customer service.

Business Associate

Average Salary
$81,000

Works across a range of responsibilities which may include administration, data analysis and reporting, documentation of processes, billing and improving business efficiency. 

Business Analyst

Average Salary
$109,000

Provides support to the business by documenting business requirements, processes and procedures. This role analyses data and reports and suggests ways to improve operations and achieve business goals.

What does an average day look like as a business manager?

Business managers can have a variety of responsibilities based on the size and the nature of an organisation. In a large organisation, business managers may have specialisation in one function of the business, and work with other managers and team leaders to achieve goals. In a smaller organisation, a business manager may control the strategic direction of the business on their own, as well as overseeing various departments. On an average day, business managers will be conversing with clients, employees or other stakeholders, either in person, video calls, over the phone or via email. They may need to read and assess specific business reports and data, create business reports and data or work on long-term strategies for the business.

Business managers also might be more hands-on, directly managing certain employees or checking in with department meetings or management meetings. Business managers can also work independently of an organisation’s departments, and be seen as a consultant focusing on a specific business goal such as new product development, client account management and retainment, or action revenue growth strategies.

Pursuing career opportunities in business management

Given the opportunity to pursue a business management career in almost any industry, insights into particular roles are more difficult to measure. A report from 2020 shows that within business management roles, Office Manager occupations show the largest increase in employment, with all business management roles showing a positive growth in employment rate. Office managers are shown to increase from around 141,000 professionals in 2020 to 180,000 by 2024.

The top occupations in demand are:

Program or Project Administrator

Corporate General Manager

Corporate Administrator

Office Manager

General Manager

The 2019 – 2020 WGEA Report (Workplace Gender Equality Agency) brought forth some data about the percentage of women in business leadership positions. Women make up:

48% of Key Management Positions

28.1% of Directors

14.6% of Board Chairs

The WGEA Report also details a valuable 10-step process for getting more women into management positions:

  • 1. Build a strong case for change
  • 2. Role-model a commitment to diversity, including with business partners
  • 3. Redesign roles and work to enable flexible work and normalise uptake across levels and genders
  • 4. Actively sponsor rising women
  • 5. Set a clear diversity aspiration, backed up by accountability
  • 6. Support talent through life transitions
  • 7. Ensure the infrastructure is in place to support a more inclusive and flexible workplace
  • 8. Challenge traditional views of merit in recruitment and evaluation
  • 9. Invest in frontline leader capabilities to drive cultural change
  • 10. Develop rising women and ensure experience in key roles

Industry Insights

How do I start a career in Business Leadership & Management?

Starting a career in business leadership and management all begins with the right attitude, willingness to network, and the drive to qualify oneself with the right skills and knowledge. A qualification in business like the Diploma of Business (Leadership) (BSB50120) is an excellent way to ensure you are learning the right skillsets and able to confidently succeed in any job role and industry. For those succeeding in a 2IC role and looking to transfer into a leading and managing role, the Diploma of Leadership & Management (BSB50420) is an excellent choice for developing critical management skills. Having the right attitude to leading is important, but having the knowledge, understanding and skills to support your leadership approach is essential.

WHY STUDY WITH CAL?

Real Outcomes. Guaranteed.

Our Real Outcomes Guarantee is our commitment to you and your career goals, ensuring that your studies will give you real-world benefits.

Our team, assessments and feedback are all focused on helping you in your career, not just completing your course. As the only RTO offering this, our guarantee is part of our ongoing work to go beyond just a piece of paper.

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CAL Careers Hub and Career Counselling

We support you beyond achieving your qualifications – we want to help you be as prepared as possible for taking the next step in your career. Our Careers Hub gives you complimentary and exclusive access to resources and personalised advice from our in-house Career Coach.

My experience with Jenni the career counsellor was exceptional…The feedback was so helpful. She was encouraging too, and made me feel more sure about how to ‘sell myself’ to the target employers. I am very impressed with CAL’s careers hub – many resources that I will use. Thank you very much for your help.

– Samantha M.

Every member of our team is here to support you beyond achieving your qualifications. We want you to be as prepared as possible for taking the next step in your career. As a CAL student you’ll gain access to our Careers Hub through our online learning hub ‘Spark’.

Learn more about the cal career hub

BUSINESS LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT