To be successful as a research and development manager, it is important to be able to see the big picture as you will have to envision projects from start to finish. At the same time, having a keen ability to pay attention to details is important, as R&D managers ultimately need to closely supervise every step of the development process for new products. Leadership and managerial skills are also important in this role, as well as the ability to communicate well with colleagues and lower level staff. A strong sense of creativity will also aid in the process of thinking of new product ideas and solving problems creatively.