Qualities of a Good Manager

There are thousands of managers out there, trying to recruit, train and retain their staff. They all want the same thing: To earn the respect of their direct reports, to please their bosses and to avoid that so often come with people managerment.

What are the qualities of a good manager?  We have listed the following qualities. Do you have all or some of them?

Are you confident?

A healthy level of self-confidence is required to succeed at being a manager. Having confidence in your ability to make decisions and call the shots is what your team expects from a leader.  Being confident allows you to lead with authority and be open to communication. This in turn builds up faith in your employees who will work together with you towards the company’s vision. 

Getting started: When you dress better, you feel better. Choose the right attire for your industry and lifestyle and you will experience a surge in self-esteem.  Dressing appropriately can build up confidence quickly.

Can you make decisions? 

A manager’s job is to make decisions. There may be times where there is not enough information or less than ideal situations where one is under pressure, but a manager who can act quickly and decisively will earn the respect of his employees. 

Getting started: Most decisions go wrong because the wrong issue is identified. Define the causes and not the symptoms.

Are you in the loop? 

A good manager will always be kept in touch of current happenings. They have a wonderful ability to build a broad network of contacts within and outside of the company. Not only are they able to influence those above them, but they are also privy to business rumours that can serve them well.  

Getting started: Put yourself out and about. You will not learn much by sticking to people you know. Be confident about joining groups and expanding your reach.

Can you delegate? 

Delegation is an acquired skill. Being able to delegate work to employees successfully takes practice. As a manager, you will need to understand the skills and abilities of your employees. When done correctly, delegating allows your employees to develop their potential and grow the company to meet the challenges of tomorrow. 

Getting started: Make sure you know why you are delegating a certain task. If you are delegating because you are lazy, it defeats the real purpose of delegation.

Are you authentic? 

You do not have to be a superhero to get it right. Your employees will respect you if they see that you are a lot like them rather than pretending to be someone you are not. It is also about having self-awareness to know what your strengths are so that you can use them to your advantage; and where your weaknesses lie so that you know how to work around them or remedy them quickly. 

Getting started: Break the mould. Rather than following the “Steve Jobs way” or “Richard Branson way”, find your own way that will work for you.

Do you have emotional intelligence? 

Managers with emotional intelligence have a high level of self-awareness and practise tact and empathy. They are the ones who are able to rise up to the top, making few enemies along the way. Having emotional intelligence makes you well-tuned to the feelings of others and handle disagreements diplomatically in the workplace. 

Getting started: Being self-aware is a way to improve your emotional intelligence. Paying attention to how you feel in the present moment such as your feelings and thoughts is a good start.

Are you a good communicator? 

Your role as a manager is to get your employees to do things for you and you need to communicate with them to get things done. Communication is a two-way process and managers have to be good listeners as well. A good manager may also possess the power of persuasion whereby the employee is willing to complete the tasks assigned to them and believe that they are the right people for the job. 

Getting started: Learn to keep quiet and listen rather than adding your opinions whenever someone speaks up. Active listening improves mutual understanding.

Do you inspire others? 

While you may not walk in on a Monday morning at 8 o’clock feeling inspirational, your employees are definitely looking to you for motivation and direction.  Being inspiring is about showing your staff the big picture and helping them understand how they can do their part to achieve the big picture. Employees will feel a sense of purpose in going to work and will be uplifted by your influence. 

Getting started: One way to inspire others is to tell compelling stories. People draw inspiration from the experiences of others.