What are the main functions of managers in business?

The main functions of managers correspond to planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling. Managers, as the term indicates, are asked to efficiently manage all the resources they have at their disposal: people, time, money, and other physical resources.

Planning is the primordial function of management, where the manager develops a future course of action (or roadmap) to meet the department/team goals.

Organizing corresponds to the interpretation of the planning stage, by establishing the right relationships so that the long-term goals are more efficiently achieved.

Staffing means that the managers should positively influence the match between tasks and available workforce, optimizing the value that each employee delivers to his/her team.

Directing corresponds to driving the course of action in regard to decision-making and the optimization of resources while work happens. It is the "invisible hand" side of managing and it should nurture support and direction to the team.

Finally, controlling means that managers should also play the role of monitoring work and evaluating how the actions taken met the desired goals. It should detect any possible threats that may constitute a deviation in strategy and objectives.