What makes a good manager – Key skills all successful managers have

Working in a sales environment, I have had the pleasure of having a diverse range of managers whom I’ve learnt different attributes from. They all had different styles of management, some with a more direct approach and some with a more relaxed approach.

In my experience, there are certain things that make a good manager and other things that make a great manager.

Below is a list of things that make a good manager;

 Be a good listener

• This is a pretty simple trait that a lot of managers get wrong. To be a good listener you need to hear out your staff, understand their concerns and take action. There should be no question too stupid and nothing too difficult.

 Be adaptable

• Managers will generally be looking after several staff and it’s important that

you adapt to the different personalities to get the best out of people. The best managers can tweak their approach to relate to different staff members.

 Be approachable

• This is a very important trait for any good manager. This is probably the trickiest to master as some managers feel that they portray an open-door policy, but unfortunately it doesn’t always appear this way to staff. Being open and honest with your staff from the first time you meet them is an excellent start. Setting expectations and boundaries will give your staff confidence that you are someone they can trust. Trust is something that is earnt.

 Be an example

• It depends on the field that you are working in, but there are many ways to be a good example to your team. If you are demonstrating honesty, integrity and passion at all times, this will filter down to your staff.

 Be knowledgeable

• You are a source of knowledge and information for your team. Be generous with your knowledge and experiences.

You just read about what makes a good manager, now read on to see what makes a GREAT manager.

 Take advice

• As a manager, you can learn from your staff and from your seniors. There is always more to learn and everyone in your business can contribute something new.

 Always be positive

• Being a positive person means your team can thrive off your energy. You need to be able to keep your team motivated and keep them driven to succeed.

 Be a motivator

• Being a good motivator means no matter what the situation, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel and push your team to get there. You need to demonstrate this consistently.

 Be a mentor

• You need to be someone that your staff can come to for assistance, not only in work but personally. Mentoring your staff on a personal level helps build trust and friendship.

Mastering these traits takes years of practice and consistency and every step you take will develop you into a manager that is respected by their staff and someone to be counted on.