Being a manager is a significant responsibility, and a successful manager knows how to use their position to effectively balance employee needs and well-being with company goals. Hiring for a management role is also a crucial task for HR professionals because the chosen candidate must hold specific qualities to lead their team.
What Makes a Good Manager?
Whether you’re wondering how to be a good manager or hire top talent, it’s vital to understand the management skills and qualities that make up great leaders. An effective manager can lead a team when they have the following attributes.
1. Effective Communication Skills
A manager must stay abreast of mission-critical responsibilities and effectively communicate this information to their teams. Clear communication increases productivity because it gives employees the details they need to complete necessary tasks, and it eliminates confusion among team members who have different responsibilities to fulfill as they work toward the same goal.
A talented manager needs excellent verbal and written communication skills to get all team members on the same page. They deliver the same interpretation to each person, so everyone has a directive to get where they need to go.
2. Honesty and Responsibility
When employees feel they can trust and rely on their manager, they can become more secure and willing to follow directions when needed. Team members who know they can depend on their supervisor will likely have increased job satisfaction.
While this means a good manager must always tell the truth, they should also practice transparency and openness. The most successful leaders understand the importance of leading by example and inspiring others to be honest, too.
Successful managers also take ownership of the entire team’s successes and failures, which requires a willingness to admit when they’ve made a mistake. As a result, they take the initiative to be positive and supportive, which helps their employees grow.
3. Focus
Remaining focused on objectives and outcomes is more meaningful than how many hours a person works. Effective managers excel at juggling multiple projects simultaneously. They must efficiently delegate tasks, keep track of employee progress, provide help where needed and complete their work on time.
4. Positivity
Every company experiences stressful times. Team members look to their manager to gauge how they should react. A competent manager should respond to setbacks with a positive outlook and attitude, which will make their team more confident as they face challenges. Optimism can also increase employee retention because it reduces stress and helps employees feel more comfortable in their work environment.
5. Technical Skills
A good manager has the training and knowledge to jump in and help their team when necessary. A manager should add value to their team and use their talents to help find solutions in challenging times. Before delegating tasks to others, they must first understand the processes themselves so they can offer assistance, encouragement and motivation.
6. Creativity
When they encounter problems that aren’t black and white, successful managers come up with innovative solutions. They think outside the box, and are also willing to implement employees’ creative ideas when offered. Visionary leaders inspire their employees and improve operations.
7. Interest in the Team’s Well-Being and Success
Good managers go beyond work tasks to care for their employees’ overall wellness. While a manager’s primary responsibility is to oversee company processes and inspire their team to reach new heights, leaders should also show a genuine interest in how their employees are doing and show consideration for their mental health. Managers should consistently check in with their team members, listen to their concerns and offer support.
8. Empathy
To support employees, managers must practice empathy. When managers imagine themselves in their employees’ shoes and think about what it’s like doing their jobs, they will be more understanding. An empathetic manager listens to their team and offers help wherever possible, which leads to increased productivity and better employee retention.
When employees feel understood, they are more likely to remain with a company long-term. A good manager knows how to compassionately support employees, so they feel confident to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.
9. Encouragement and Empowerment
Managers can also help their team develop confidence by providing reassurance. Excellent managers motivate their employees by celebrating their successes and offering positive and constructive feedback.
When a manager makes their employees feel valued and empowered, they will have the enthusiasm to do their best work and grow in their position. They will also care more about the company’s goals and feel more inspired to reach them.
10. A Clear Vision and Strategy
A good manager has insights and tactics that enable employees to set and reach actionable goals. They also offer insight and help each team member understand how their role contributes to the company’s overall success.
11. Decisiveness
Decision-making skills are crucial for people in management roles. Whether they face routine or challenging decisions, successful managers understand how to act swiftly, assess their options and think of creative solutions to solve problems quickly.
12. Delegation
Effective delegation is another vital managerial skill. A successful manager understands how to reassign less urgent tasks so they can focus on the bigger picture. While some may assume delegating is only about passing off undesirable or tedious work to others because it’s convenient, it means recognizing who has the best skills for each job and assigning things accordingly. Managers should understand how to delegate tasks so each team member can use their strengths without feeling overwhelmed.
Consult With Exude Human Capital to Learn More About Effective Managerial Skills
Whether you are a manager who wants to sharpen your leadership skills or an HR professional who needs to strengthen your organization’s leaders, Exude Human Capital can help. We offer leadership development training to provide supervisors and managers with the resources they need to grow and positively impact their teams.
With Exude’s training and tools, managers can learn skills to confidently lead employees. Contact us to learn more about how our consultants can help you or your managerial team develop valuable leadership skills.
