Staying on course and supporting colleagues in challenging situations fosters trust and respect.

Leadership and interpersonal skills are essential for all electronics manufacturing services (EMS) management team members. These skills become even more critical in program management and sales roles, where individuals often need to execute with little or no authority over the teams they rely on. I teach these skills in a range of programs. Over the past year, I’ve had a surprising journey that reinforced how important it is to practice that knowledge daily.

As some readers know, I ride horses. Last year, my 27-year-old senior horse began to lose his battle with osteoarthritis. I bought Prim, a 5-year-old mare, so I could continue competitive riding without overstressing Max’s joints.

These two skills make for a good negotiator.

Dual responsibility for company profitability and customer satisfaction makes program management among the most difficult jobs in EMS. While the program manager is responsible for coordinating the resources of EMS production on behalf of their customers, most have no authority over the people who control those resources. Program managers who excel in negotiation accomplish more than those who don’t.