How to become a good Account Manager? Applies to any field - Recruiting / Sales / Marketing / Not for profit etc.

From the links:

• http://blog.firebrandtalent.com/2012/08/what-makes-a-kick-ass-account-manager/
• http://www.ehow.com/info_12047996_top-traits-good-account-manager.html
• http://sinsblog.com/2010/06/16/core-competencies-of-a-great-key-account-manager/
• http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/12/21012.html
• http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_skills_and_traits_of_a_good_account_manager
• http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/07/how_to_succeed_at_key_account.html
• http://www.projectmanagementwatch.com/2013/03/05/how-to-become-a-good-sales-and-account-manager-tips-tactics/
• http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/4296.html
• http://www.iproceed.com/marketing/develop-key-account-management-strategy.htm
• http://www.freshgigs.ca/blog/account-manager-inside-jobs/

Here are some of the qualities of a GOOD ACCOUNT MANAGER:

• Ability to manage your own accounts
• Have good writing skills
• Problem solving skills
• Communication skills
• Management skills
• Mentor people
• Manage juniors
• Write reports
• Make presentations
• Be good at public speaking
• Conduct meetings
• Participation in work events
• Be good at planning
• Be good at executing tasks
• Good at negotiations
• Ability to form relationships
• Ability to ask the right questions
• Ability to listen
• Ability to do Analysis
• Persuation skills
• Ability to Organize
• Forecasting accuracy
• Tight budget control
• Creative business development
• Thorough business planning
• Realistic - in touch with economic reality
• In-depth product / service knowledge
• Fact-based selling
• Strong customer relationships
• Love team work
• Smiling face
• Sense of humour
• Responsibility
• Sincerity
• Persistence
• Not taking failure personally
• Creativity
• Industry knowledge
• Good education helps
• Be strategic
• Understand client needs
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Friendly
• Good networker
• Contstantly connecting with target stakeholders
• Be visible
• Make a difference, an impact -- not just exist
• Gather information constantly
• Be part of industry groups
• Understand competition and competitors
• Make clients feel important
• Maintain professionalism
• Charisma can not replace quality work
• Output, not just input -- show results, not just give ideas
• Know the target market
• Be subtle
• Dress well
• Be well groomed
• Have a niche
• Know use of LinkedIn well
• Know use of Social Media well
• Know how to do research
• Know how to gather leads
• Good at follow up or monitoring
• Know benchmarking
• Know metrics
• Understand trends
• Love challenges
• Build a personal brand
• Maintain high visibility
• Understand your role
• Understand your expectations
• Persistence
• Have a rolodex
• Have a calendar
• Grow your contacts regularly
• Follow up with your contacts regularly
• Manage time efficiently
• Face outward? -- Firm's representative to the client
• Face inward? --  Client's representative to the firm
• Know the short term and long term goals
• Understand the market
• Be good at Accounting and Billing
• Have good client and candidate control
• Select clients and candidates carefully
• Take an interest in the client's business
• Listen
• Take notes
• Confirm in writing
• Put the client's interest first
• Treat the client's money as your own
• Deals with issues
• Never badmouth a client
• Take initiative
• Get agreement on Strategy
• Build bridges at multiple levels
• Put dates on your work
• Maintain a to-do list of tasks
• Be good with technology
• Dedicate time for professional development
• Be enthusiastic, positive, and loyal
• Re-invent constantly
• Stay fresh
• Get high level buy in
• Find the right people for the right task - internally
• Curiosity
• Initiative
• Enthusiasm
• Diplomacy
• Drive
• Initiative
• Strong desire to succeed
• Strong desire to convert ideas to action
• Division of labour
• Passion for work
• Being specific
• Quick decision making ability
• Maintaining a cool head
• Profitability Management
• Account Planning
• Gap Analysis
• Needs Analysis
• Good hunting skills
• Good phone skills
• Making high volume phone calls
• Organizing work day in advance
• Know how to open doors
• Create a coaching plan
• Know key industry terms
• Create action plan with steps, resources, metrics and milestones
• Have clarity
• Creative selling abilities
• Discretion
• Build short term and long term strategies
• Have patience
• Avoid impulsive behaviour
• Resource Allocation
• Value creation
• Meet customer needs
• Product and Service portfolio
• Exceed expectation
• Help grow income
• Become a partner, not just a supplier