A good manager has a tremendous amount of responsibility and is constantly aware that their choice in leadership will lead to either success or failure for those beneath him. They have to manage people and make the right choices through self-reflection, discipline, and being honest about what they know or don’t.
Who is a Good Manager?
There is no ultimate thing that defines someone who is a good manager. What determines a good manager varies depending on the situation and nature of each job. However, there are certain qualities that many good managers have in common, summarized as considerate, candor, dedicated, fair, enthusiastic, and firm.
Overall, being a good manager is more of an art than a science, requiring experience that you can only get through daily practice and interactions with your team.
So, here are 24 examples of good management:
1. A Good Manager Makes Employees Successful
A good manager strives to establish an environment where everyone can work together toward common goals that help each gain success. It involves creating an atmosphere of collaboration and cooperation rather than competition among team members.
Good managers focus on developing employees’ skills and providing opportunities for them to succeed, not on trying to control every aspect of the workplace through bureaucracy, policies, and procedures that they created.
Thus, when people use their initiative, they feel a sense of achievement, rather than the anxiety and guilt of not meeting expectations.
2. They Show Gratitude
Examples of good management include recognising good work done by employees and expressing thanks for that work through verbal praise or in other ways, such as public recognition or rewards.
Good managers take the time to thank employees for a job well done and never let them put in extra hours without commensurate compensation.
3. Great Managers Provide Feedback
A good manager provides honest feedback while encouraging growth and improvement in an employee’s performance and professional development.
Feedback is a two-way street. A good manager appreciates constructive criticism from their employees and welcomes the opportunity to develop themselves as well. Thus creating a mutually beneficial relationship in which the manager and employees grow together.
Read also: 22 Skills and Qualities That Make You a Good Leader
4. A Good Manager has Great People Skills
People management skills may be the most essential of all for an effective manager because it involves relationships. Good managers learn how to interact with their people. Good communication is key as a manager.
But being able to listen and take in what your employees are saying cannot be underrated. So, good people skills open the door for trust, respect, admiration and strengthen relationships among employees.
5. A Good Manager is a Great Coach
Good managers know that being a leader does not mean they have to be in the spotlight all the time. So, they step back and remain out of sight to let their team members shine for once.
They know how to become great coaches who can lead by example, challenge others to do more than what they thought was possible, and guide them through challenging times or problems while inspiring their employees towards success.
A good manager knows that instilling confidence into his team allows them to do a better job when it counts.
6. A Good Communicator
One of the most important characteristics that good managers must possess is good communication skills. Good communication takes place when there is a flow of information between two parties.
Good managers can communicate effectively using words, actions, and body language to help employees understand what they want.
7. A Good Manager Makes Difficult Decisions
A good manager is not afraid to make difficult decisions. They know the difference between being liked and being respected.
While it feels nice for people to like you, your purpose as a manager is not just to be liked but rather to lead, solve problems, be fair, motivate and respect your team members. Good managers aren’t afraid to make hard decisions even if it means that others may not like them as much.
8. A Good Manager Do Not Micromanage
A good manager does not micromanage but instead delegates tasks so that they can focus on higher-level work. They give employees clear and detailed instructions and stay on the sideline waiting to five support if necessary.
They show confidence in those they manage to make decisions on their own. Also, they leave room for interpretation and creativity while still getting results.
Also read: 16 Examples of Taking Responsibility at Work
9. A Good Manager Has Ability to Listen
Active listening is the ability to hear what someone else is saying, understand its meaning or message, and respond appropriately.
A good manager listens to understand not to reply. Active listening helps good managers connect with others in a more meaningful way. Being patient enough to listen deeply allows them to know each person better and improve relationships among team members.
They also use active listening to hear problems from all levels of employees so that they can identify issues before it becomes a problem for the team.
10. Good Managers are not Dictators
Good managers make sure everyone knows their role and how to work together as a unit. They do not make every decision themselves, but they do make the final call when there are conflicts or disputes among team members who share equal power in a given situation.
11. A Good Manager is Self-Aware
A good manager never lets their personal feelings get in the way of giving constructive criticism to an employee who needs it to improve their performance.
They would not let emotions cloud judgment, or they could end up doing more harm than good. Good managers know that giving negative feedback is just as important as giving praise when the situation calls for them to do so.
But they also know exactly how and when to deliver that message in a constructive way instead of just lashing out at someone for whatever reason.
12. Good managers do not Have Favorites
Good managers do not play favoritism and are afraid to give honest criticism, which is always good because most employees hate being criticized by their boss. When you manage people effectively, everyone feels like they are being treated fairly and judged by the same standards in every situation.
In most cases, of course, somebody might be better at doing some things than someone else, but nobody should ever feel like their manager does not treat them fairly.
Good managers do not necessarily pat their team members on the back all the time, but they are also not constantly cracking the whip either.
They treat staff members with respect and dignity while instilling in people a sense of accountability for their actions and the results.
Read more: 12 Most Important Skills of a Manager
13. They Encourage Teamwork
Good managers encourage teamwork among staff members because they feel that cooperation is much more effective than the competition in most cases.
They get the best out of their people by building a cohesive environment where everyone feels like they matter as individuals — regardless of the level of seniority within the workplace.
A good manager genuinely wants to see their employees succeed and often goes above and beyond to connect their team members and put them in positions that play to their strengths.
14. A Good Manager Delegates Tasks
A good manager knows how to delegate tasks and responsibilities so that things get done more efficiently. Good managers can effectively manage their time and delegate tasks efficiently.
They also have the foresight to know when to hire a new team member or contract with another company to get things done much faster.
15. Good Managers have Convictions
Good managers have the courage of their convictions meaning, that they can stand up for what they believe in, even if that means going against popular opinion.
Good management requires making difficult decisions, and a good manager knows when to change course based on those decisions. They also know how and when to apologize for their bad decisions that sometimes lead to mistakes.
16. Good Managers Accept Criticism
A good manager can effectively listen to constructive criticism without taking offense because they have developed an attitude of positivity towards themselves and others.
Good managers listen to criticism with an open mind without taking it personally. They do not just listen but also act by using the information received to develop themselves and their employees.
17. A Good Manager Motivates Others
A good manager knows how to inspire their team members and encourage them to work hard and perform at optimal levels. They celebrate team success while maintaining their integrity when they fail.
Good managers praise their people when they do something good or achieve results and commiserate if they try and fail because doing so helps build camaraderie.
18. A Good Manager sets Clear Expectations
A good manager sets clear expectations for what team members need to do and accomplish and by whom. Good managers also stay on top of their team’s progress throughout the project.
They show employees respect and always providing guidance or constructive feedback after completing the work. Also, they do so because good managers always want to know how employees can improve their performance and help them grow.
19. Good Managers Care about their People
A good manager spends time getting to know each team member individually and understanding what motivates them. They remember birthdays, achievements, and anniversaries for all their staff (whether it is a special date in family life or just a personal milestone).
They find ways to recognize and celebrate successes so that everyone feels valued and appreciated for the contribution they make.
20. A Good Manager is not Afraid Asking Questions
Good managers are not afraid to ask questions if something is unclear or make themselves available for clarification if something is not understood. They always strive to make it easier for their team members to communicate openly and without fear of repercussion.
Good managers will not ask a question if they already know the answer unless they want to use that question as an opportunity to teach an employee something new or remind them of something else when addressing a problem or issue.
21. A Good Manager is Resilient
Resilience is your ability to recover from difficulties. Good managers should be able to express their skills in a variety of circumstances, such as working under pressure and accepting constructive criticism.
A resilient manager has a positive outlook on everything and leads others effectively through problems. Good managers usually do not break down when facing trouble but stay strong, calm, and focused on guiding their teams to achieving success.
22. Good Manager have Strong Personal Character
Personal character is a set of values and beliefs that define who you are as a person. Good managers have a strong personal character that inspires trust and confidence in themselves by the people they manage.
They can inspire a positive attitude, hard work, and good performance in others by being self-motivated, responsible for their actions, and showing high integrity, honesty and fairness at all times. They also pursue their goals without compromising ethical and moral values.
23. A Good Manager is not Afraid of Change
A good manager is not afraid of change and encourages it when possible because it means new opportunities for everyone. Good managers are willing to take calculated risks rather than playing it safe.
They do not try to protect their jobs at the expense of all else, and they encourage risk-taking from everyone in the team because that is what helps it grow. So, they know when change is needed instead of trying to keep everything the same.
They see when a good idea falls into old habits and needs fresh approaches to bring back new ideas for growth.
Good leaders engage with people on an emotional level since positives emotions are the driving force behind change. A good manager is effective because he knows how important having fun at work is.
24. They Support their Employees
A good manager supports their employees through difficult times and provides feedback to help them grow professionally. They empower employees to handle their problems without being dependent on the manager all the time.
Conclusion
The qualities to be a good manager are many and varied, including self-control, integrity, and self-confidence.
It takes time to become an excellent manager, and even then you are always learning. Good managers listen carefully during conversations with employees and take time to consider their feedback before moving forward in a business venture or project.
Good managers will ask a question if they already know or don’t know the answer. Because those questions are opportunities to teach something new or remind others of something they have long forgotten.
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