A good manager can be hard to find in some organizations. Some people really have no business supervising people, but for whatever reason they have been given an opportunity. When someone is a “good” manager, it usually shows. Sometimes it can be hard to quantify exactly why that person is a good manager, but many times those effective supervisors are easily identified. Experts debate whether good management is innate or whether it can be learned. The answer probably lies somewhere in between. Regardless, here are a few thoughts on the qualities of a good manager.
Listening and awareness
The good manager is someone that hears, understands, and is able to understand their particular surroundings. In the modern age of business, people expect to be heard. That doesn’t mean that the quality manager has to cater to every employee whim. However, it does mean that they have to respect people enough to let them express their opinion. The good manager is the person who can create an atmosphere of open dialog while at the same time maintaining the confidence to make tough decisions that may or may not be popular.
Vision and logistics
Another quality of a good manager is the ability to see the big picture and yet manage the day-to-day operations of an organization. Some people can dream big dreams but can’t put them into practice. Other managers can manage the steps of a project, but they can’t take organization beyond the standard owner’s manual. The good manager is able to balance the two components and is able to cast a vision for their employees while creating a plan of implementation that is truly effective.
Communication and humor
Finally, the good manager is the person who can interact well with their employees on a daily basis and communicate both daily tasks and complex projects. In addition, the effective manager is usually confident enough not to take him or herself too seriously. Humor is often appreciated in the workplace. This doesn’t mean that they try to be the office clown, because sometimes this can be a distraction. However, a relaxed and humorous atmosphere can often create some level of calm in stressful situations. The effective manager is able to leverage humor in such a way that it keeps the staff in a positive frame of mind while they are completing difficult tasks.
Overall, the good manager is the person who has a good sense of who they are and is comfortable admitting that they do not know everything. The good manager must have confidence and be able to make decisions on a regular basis. However, some managers struggle because they are unable to show their employees that they are human. The effective manager is a balanced individual who combines confidence with humility, and always strives to improve themselves and the organization.
