One of the things that will ensure a business strives well in a competitive market is a good manager. Good managers are expected to possess certain skills and qualities. In addition to leadership traits, they must possess emotional intelligence which will help them practice self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management, all of which are the basis of achieving goals and promoting teamwork. A manager is someone who has charge of a team, a project, a procedure, or any other entity and is responsible for making sure it succeeds. Let’s take a quick tour of what it takes to be a good manager including the qualities, educational requirements, and of course, a few examples of successful managers.
What 4 Things Do Managers Do?
The four primary responsibilities of a manager are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. These four pillars are at the center of all of a manager’s duties or tasks. The entire set of duties or tasks performed by a manager is centered on these four pillars of management, which were originally identified by Henri Fayol as five elements or accepted functions of management.
In addition, the duties of managers include;
- Organizing the time and schedules of workers
- Directly answering to the CEO or another senior executive
- Organizing work and assigning responsibilities to team members
- Facilitating the HR team’s hiring and firing processes
- Building a company culture that supports and advances the organization’s goals and ideals
What Are the 3 Roles of a Manager?
Generally, the roles of a manager fall into one of these three categories informational roles, interpersonal roles, and decisional roles.
What Behaviors Should a Manager Have?
The following are some of the behaviors a manager should have;
- Involve team members in decision-making
- Establish goals that align with the company’s purpose.
- Invest in your team members’ success and well-being.
- Communicate clear plans to achieve team goals.
- Recognize and appreciate individual achievements.
- Empower your team.
- Listen to feedback
What Makes a Good Manager?
A good manager is someone who possesses a variety of skills and qualities that enable them to effectively lead a team and achieve organizational goals. Generally leads by example, builds strong relationships with their team members, and is committed to achieving the organization’s goals.
Here are some key characteristics of a good manager:
#1. Communication Skills
A good manager should be an excellent communicator who can convey expectations, ideas, and feedback to their team. They should also be good listeners and open to feedback from others.
#2. Leadership Skills
A good manager should possess strong leadership skills, including the ability to motivate and inspire their team, set clear goals, and delegate tasks effectively.
#3. Time Management
A good manager should be skilled in managing their own time and the time of their team. They should prioritize tasks and ensure that deadlines are met.
#4. Problem-Solving
A good manager should be able to identify problems quickly and develop creative solutions to solve them.
#5. Emotional Intelligence
A good manager should be able to understand and manage their own emotions as well as those of their team members. They should be empathetic, approachable, and able to provide emotional support when needed.
#6. Adaptability
A good manager should be able to adapt to changing situations and remain calm and focused under pressure.
#7. Technical Expertise
Depending on the industry, a good manager should have a strong understanding of the technical aspects of their business.
#8. Integrity
A good manager should be honest, transparent, and ethical in all their interactions with their team members and stakeholders.
#9. Education
Brain Tracy and other expert business management gurus across the United State may have succeeded in building a career without an educational degree because they engaged in self-education. They however still went back to get their degree certification. You need at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in business administration or a related subject to be a manager. For instance, a master’s degree in business administration is often required by larger organizations. However, if you want to increase your chances of getting employed for this position, earning an MBA or a similar master’s degree can help you acquire the skills you’ll need.
#10. Personal Experience
Managers learn more about how their company works through a combination of formal training and experience on the job. Managers who are familiar with the field they oversee have a better grasp of the resources at their disposal. Many businesses like to promote from within, so working for a company for some time can increase your chances of being offered a management position.
What Makes a Manager Successful?
The right qualities, leadership abilities, and the decisive ability to lead a team are the crucial things that make a manager successful.
7 Qualities of a Good Manager
There are qualities that a good manager must possess. Here are seven of such qualities;
#1. Good Communication Skills
One of the qualities a good manager must possess is good communication skills. A good manager needs to be able to communicate well with their team, peers, and bosses. They should be able to listen well and talk to their team, peers, and bosses. They should be able to make clear what is expected of them, give feedback, and encourage open communication.
#2. Leadership
Leadership is one of the top qualities a good manager must possess. A good manager should be a strong leader who can motivate and inspire team members to perform at their best. They should lead by example and set a positive tone for the workplace.
#3. Organizational Skills
A good manager must have strong organizational skills, such as the ability to put tasks in order of importance, manage time well, and give team members tasks to do.
#4. Problem-Solving Abilities
A good manager should have strong problem-solving abilities, including the ability to identify problems, develop creative solutions, and make decisions that are in the best interests of the team and the organization.
#5. Flexibility
A good manager should be flexible and adaptable, able to respond quickly to changes in the workplace, and open to new ideas and approaches.
#6. Empathy
A good manager should have empathy, including the ability to understand and relate to the needs and concerns of their team members. They should be able to make the workplace a place where everyone feels welcome and where collaboration and teamwork are encouraged.
#7. Expertise
A good manager should have expertise in their area of responsibility, including a deep understanding of the industry, the market, and the organization’s goals and objectives. They should also stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices.
How to Be a Good Manager
Aside from qualities and great skill sets, a good manager will need to practice the following;
#1. Maintain Open Lines of Communication
Managers need to be able to not just communicate effectively but also encourage their teams to do so. You may learn more about your team members’ wants and requirements, collaborate with them to complete tasks, and lessen the likelihood of misunderstandings if you set up and have open channels of communication with them. Managers need to be able to communicate effectively, but they can also help their teams improve in this area.
#2. Support Team Work
It’s undeniably true that results come from the hard work of good management, but if there were no team carrying out the directive of the management, it would never be a success either. Working together productively toward a common objective is the essence of collaboration. When employees are encouraged to work together, the workplace improves and becomes more pleasant for everyone. If employees like one another on the job, they’re more likely to form lasting, productive partnerships.
#3. Set Clear And Achievable Goals
One of the primary responsibilities of a manager is to help the company achieve its goals. To do this, the manager must set goals and implementable strategies. Managers may help their team succeed by being explicit about what is expected of them. An organizational chart that specifies everyone’s responsibilities and the department’s overall objectives is one good example of how to set everyone up for success.
#4. Be Open To Feedback
Feedback is one of the rudiments of effective communication. Be proactive and ask for regular feedback from your staff to learn about your management strengths and development opportunities.
#5. Applaud successes
Managers are expected to know a lot about their employees, including what tasks they do, what skills they have, and how well they do their jobs. Think about providing your staff with suggestions, initiatives, and resources to help them feel encouraged and supported as they work toward their objectives. Employees are more likely to work harder and stay with the company for a longer period when they perceive their supervisors to value and respect them.
#6. Be a Good Role Model
Managers are not just motivators; they are also role models and mentors. They need to demonstrate the behavior they want to see from their workers at work. To reach this goal, team members must be able to talk to each other, work on projects together, give each other constructive feedback, take pride in their work, thank others for their efforts, and help out when needed.
#7. Provide Training
Managers that have their finger on the pulse of their staff’s performance can help those workers tremendously. To get this kind of understanding, you need to do a thorough analysis of the whole operation, find the weak spots, and then make the necessary changes to make the process run more smoothly.
#8. Understand Your Role
To succeed as a manager, you need to know how your department fits into the bigger picture. Consider what you do well as a manager and what you could work on further to become an even better leader.
Learning is something that never stops, regardless of how long you’ve been a manager. Hence, if you want to keep developing as a manager, it’s important to take advantage of courses that offer a broad curriculum.
What Skills Make a Manager Successful?
The following are some of the skills that make a manager successful;
What Are the 10 Requirements of a Perfect Manager?
- Leadership mentality
- Time-management skills
- Problem-solving capability
- Decision-making
- Visionary
- Emotional intelligence
Successful Manager Example
A successful manager is someone who can lead their team to achieve their goals and perform at a high level. Let’s look at a few successful managers;
#1. Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft
One example of a successful manager is Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft. Since 2014, when Nadella became CEO of Microsoft, he has changed the company’s culture and strategy by emphasizing a growth mindset and a focus on innovation. He has also led the company to significant financial success, with Microsoft’s market value increasing by more than $500 billion during his tenure.
One of Nadella’s most important strategies has been to put empathy and inclusion at work at the top of the list. He has tried to build a culture of collaboration and teamwork and hire people from different backgrounds. Under his leadership, Microsoft has been known for its commitment to social responsibility, sustainability, and ethical business practices.
Nadella has also talked about how important innovation is and how it has led to Microsoft’s successful move to a business model based on the cloud. He has pushed for the development of new technologies like artificial intelligence and mixed reality, making Microsoft a leader in these areas.
Generally, Satya Nadella’s success as a manager can be attributed to his strong leadership skills, his focus on growth and innovation, and his dedication to making the workplace a place where everyone feels welcome and can work together.
#2. Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
Mary Barra became the CEO of General Motors in 2014, becoming the first woman to lead a major global automaker. Since then, she has led the company through a big change, with a focus on new ideas and the environment. Barra has put safety first in the company’s cars by investing in new technologies like electric cars and cars that drive themselves. Under her leadership, General Motors has seen improved financial performance and increased market share.
#3. Bill McDermott, CEO of ServiceNow
Bill McDermott became the CEO of ServiceNow, a cloud-based IT services company, in 2019. He has since led the company through a period of significant growth and expansion. McDermott has prioritized customer satisfaction and focused on developing innovative solutions to meet the changing needs of businesses. He has also led the company’s efforts to improve its corporate social responsibility.
Books on How to Be a Good Manager
These are just a few of the many excellent books on how to be a good manager. Each of them offers valuable insights and practical advice that can help you become a more effective manager. The following are some popular ones:
#1. The One Minute Manager” by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson
This book gives real-world advice for good management, such as how to set goals, praise employees, and give them helpful feedback.
#2. First, Break All the Rules” by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
This book is based on a study of great managers and looks at the things they have in common, like focusing on strengths instead of weaknesses and giving employees more responsibility.
#3. Good to Great” by Jim Collins
This book looks at what makes companies successful and shows how humility and discipline are important leadership traits.
#4. Crucial Conversations” by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
This book is a guide on how to have difficult conversations with employees, colleagues, and superiors in a way that is productive and respectful.
#5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey
This classic book looks at personal and professional growth from a wide range of angles, including management and leadership principles.
#6. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni
This book looks at the most common problems that teams have and advises on how to fix them through good leadership.
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