It's surprisingly hard to find a great manager. Many managers are good, some are okay, a few are terrible but only a small percent are great. Everyone has a bad manager story, but having a great manager over the course of a career is a rarity. If you want to fall into the category of being a great manager, you need to balance trust with discipline. See if you meet these six characteristics of great managers.
Great Managers Protect Their Team
Being a manager isn't all corner offices and morning meetings. Managers are involved in a lot of decision-making that directly affects their team. Managers who don't stand up for their team have teams that are overburdened and discontent. A great manager knows the limits of their team and fights for solutions that benefit both the company and the happiness and success of their department.
Great Managers Celebrate Success
When a business is under pressure, it can be hard to find reasons to celebrate. Sales figures aren't achieved, so there's no bonus. Upper management is having to cut back and the holiday dinner is cancelled. Co-workers are bickering. All these things can dampen morale and reduce a team to chaos. Great managers don't dwell on the negative. Rather, they celebrate the positive, whether that be a personal achievement for a team member or a group achievement within the company.
Great Managers Focus on Solutions
One of the biggest differences between great managers and good managers has nothing to do with their success, but rather than reaction to failure. It's easy for managers to get drawn into finger-pointing and accusations when things go wrong, but great managers recognize that most employee problems are actually process problems. Rather than looking to blame, great managers assess the process to determine how that error to can be fixed and prevented in the future.
Great Managers Encourage Development
Some of the best managers get their most effusive praise from their former employees. Why former? Because great managers don't stymie innovation and career-building. They want their employees to reach their full potential and excel in their career. Great managers coach their employees to face new challenges, even if that requires a career change. Great managers recognize that personal success is just as important as company success and encourage their employees to learn and grow.
Great Managers Foster Trust
The best managers don't just connect with their employees on a professional level. They connect with them on a personal level. Great managers take an interest in their department and create a relationship built on trust and respect. Employees who have great managers feel comfortable talking about career advancement and personal situations that affect work performance. This open dialog allows managers to make the best decisions for their employees and their team.
Great Managers Love Their Job
It may seem intuitive, but there are a surprising number of managers who are ambivalent or disengaged to their job and employees can tell. Great managers understand the importance of both their job and their business. That enthusiasm rubs off on their staff and motivates them to meet and exceed expectations.
Great Managers Understand Shortcomings
It's not all positivity and success in the business world. There are some areas where even the best employee can falter. It may be paperwork or sales, but no one can excel at everything. Great managers understand and accommodate for weakness. They push employees to become the best in their strengths but also provide opportunities to improve their weaknesses. Great managers know how to distribute work to their team so everyone can excel and learn.
