Signs of a good manager are qualities of effective leadership that result in high morale and productivity among teams. For example, getting to know team members, sharing credit for wins, and taking an active role in career coaching. The purpose of pointing out these qualities is to help leaders be better bosses, and to help employees identify positive management worth working for.
After over a decade working in corporate America, I’ve realized that having an excellent manager can make or break your career success and job satisfaction. Throughout my career journey, I’ve been fortunate enough to work under some fantastic managers who brought out the best in me. Based on my experience, here are 10 telltale signs you have a great manager
1. They Care About Your Career Goals
One of the most important signs of a great manager is that they take a genuine interest in your career aspirations They want to understand your short and long term goals, and they work to assign responsibilities that align with these objectives A great manager supports your growth by finding projects that will help you build new skills. They may even introduce training opportunities to help develop talents needed for your dream role.
2. They Give Regular Feedback
Managers who consistently provide thoughtful feedback are invaluable. Few things are more frustrating than working hard and rarely receiving input on your performance. Great managers don’t wait for formal reviews. They provide regular feedback to let you know what you’re doing well and where you can improve. This continuous coaching helps you make progress.
3. They Advocate for You
Having a manager who goes to bat for you makes a huge difference in your career growth. They promote your accomplishments to senior leaders. When you express interest in a new project or role, they enthusiastically endorse you. They fight to get you pay increases and rewards you deserve. You want a manager who’s got your back.
4. They Share Credit
Bad managers take all the glory for themselves. But great managers share credit for team successes with their direct reports. They’ll highlight your contributions in meetings with senior leadership. During reviews, they provide positive feedback on your performance. They make sure higher-ups know about your role driving key results.
5. They’re Strong Communicators
Managers who communicate clearly, listen attentively, and provide regular updates are invaluable. Uncertainty creates stress. Great managers proactively share status updates on projects and new developments. They respond quickly to questions and concerns. When changes happen, they explain why. Strong communicators foster trust and respect.
6. They’re Decisive
Working for a wishy-washy manager who constantly waffles is exhausting. But managers who analyze situations, solicit input, make firm decisions, and move forward decisively build confidence. Even when they make a decision you disagree with, their transparency about how they reached it is refreshing. You can present counterpoints, but in the end, you have clarity.
7. They Inspire and Motivate
Having a manager who challenges you to excel and believes you can do great work is incredibly motivating. They set high expectations then provide the support and guidance needed to achieve them. Their drive to do outstanding work creates energy and enthusiasm that spreads. You feel inspired to do your best.
8. They Delegate Effectively
Micromanagers sap morale and hinder productivity. But effective delegators utilize their team’s talents fully. They assess strengths and hand off tasks to those best suited. They provide direction then trust you to deliver. When issues arise, they offer advice – not orders. Delegating meaningful work makes the team feel valued.
9. They Take Responsibility
Truly exceptional managers take ownership when their team fails to deliver. They don’t point fingers or make excuses. They reflect honestly on what went wrong then work to correct it. Owning failures builds trust and loyalty. Conversely, constantly shifting blame breeds resentment and distrust.
10. They Have Your Back
The best managers support their team even when things get tough. They stand up for their team during times of change and defend them from unfair treatment. When higher-ups criticize without cause, great managers defend their team’s work. You know they’ve got your back.
Great managers make work enjoyable and enable you to thrive. If your manager demonstrates these behaviors, hold onto them! And if they don’t, maybe it’s time to find a new job. Your manager has an enormous impact, so choose wisely!
Frequency of Entities:
Good managers: 7
Points staff towards resources
Part of a leader’s role is to connect staff with company resources. Managers do not need to have all answers, however should be able to point teammates in the right direction.
Having experienced both ends of the spectrum, from “I don’t know but it can’t be too hard. I’m sure you can figure it out,” to, “look on this page of the company Wiki. I also have examples I’ll email you right now,” I can vouch firsthand that it is much more comforting and less frustrating to have a manager who has a working knowledge of company resources and actively participates in problem-solving.
Even if a manager does not have the solutions handy, a willingness to help is essential. “Let me find out,” are the golden words of management. When promising answers, leaders should follow-up and provide staff with the necessary information in a timely manner, or send a “still working on it,” update if the search takes longer than expected.
This behavior shows that the manager is dependable and empowers employees to
Practice what they preach
Honesty, self-awareness, and personal accountability are some of the most obvious good manager traits. “Do as I say, not as I do,” is not an effective leadership strategy. Hypocrisy spurs resentment and undercover rule-breaking, while integrity breeds inspiration and high standards. Great managers lead by example and motivate employees by modeling the behavior expected of the team. Mindful managers do not ask employees to do anything they are unwilling to do, and prove it with their actions. These bosses avoid making unreasonable demands. Such leaders earn the respect and admiration of direct reports, and build healthier and more authentic company cultures.
These leaders show staff that high standards are attainable and sustainable, and encourage employees to strive for the same. By holding themselves accountable, leaders foster a sense of accountability among the team.
5 signs you are actually a good manager – perhaps better than your boss!
What are the qualities of a good manager?
Good manager qualities are the qualities and traits of a manager that make them effective at managing their team and motivating them to complete high-quality work. The qualities of a good manager demonstrate the skill of personal self-management, along with the management of time, resources and often emotions of their team.
What are the signs of a good manager?
You found our list of signs of a good manager. Signs of a good manager are qualities of effective leadership that result in high morale and productivity among teams. For example, getting to know team members, sharing credit for wins, and taking an active role in career coaching.
How do you know if a manager is a good leader?
Signs of a good manager include leading by example, backing up the staff, giving autonomy, and showing thanks. What can a manager do to be a better leader? One of the most important steps a manager can take is to remain open to criticism and display a willingness to learn.
What makes a great manager?
While there are countless management styles, one thing underpins the behavior of all great managers. Above all, an exceptional manager comes to know and value the particular quirks and abilities of her employees. She figures out how to capitalize on her staffers’ strengths and tweaks her environment to meet her larger goals.
