When you think of climbing the ladder, you probably think of a bigger paycheck, more work, and, if you’re lucky, your own office. Being a manager can be a big change. You might have dreamed of this role or felt excited about the challenge. However, the reality of managing a team can be tough. The pressure to perform and achieve your KPIs can lead you to ask yourself, “How can I be a good manager?” From delegating tasks, monitoring performance, and supporting your team, it can be difficult to know how to succeed in the role.
In this article, we’re breaking down the key traits all great managers possess. Whether you’re new to the role or just want to level up your leadership skills, this guide will help you grow into the kind of manager people love to work with. With some guidance and practice, you’ll be leading your team to success. Luckily for you, the soft skills needed to be a good leader can be developed. So let’s take a look at the 7 essential skills needed to be a good manager along with 5 tips on being a manager.
What are the Qualities of a Good Manager?
Being a good manager means you possess a certain set of characteristics. Although every manager has their own management style, they share common traits, including strong communication skills. Here are 7 key characteristics of an effective leader:
Leadership Skills
Many managers believe that to be a great leader, you must possess the 7 Cs (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, confidence, compassion, and consciousness). Although this isn’t a requirement to be a manager or even a good coach, it does ring true in some instances. They know how to allocate resources, manage budgets, and tap into their team members’ unique strengths. Most importantly, they create an environment where trust, collaboration, and ownership can thrive.
Effective Management
An effective manager creates space for feedback – both giving and receiving it. Conducting regular 1-to-1s and performance reviews helps everyone stay aligned and on track to reaching their goals. By actively seeking input from your team, you can use that insight to improve your management style. Additionally, you’ll need to set goals and monitor your team’s progress. This helps support your team’s growth and ensure you’re achieving your company’s goals.
Team Development
Your team is your greatest asset so it’s vital they feel supported by you. Start by setting clear expectations, answering questions, and providing them support when needed. The more you invest in your team, the more they succeed. Not only that, but engaged teams tend to stick around longer, feel more motivated, and do their best work. By helping your team succeed, you also help the company. This leads to lower turnover rates and higher employee engagement.
Decision Making
Good management skills include being a strong decision maker. While results matter, it’s equally as important to examine the how. By evaluating the process, you can determine if your decision-making skills are truly help your team succeed. Understanding what makes decisions effective is key to developing your leadership style. Moreover, decisive managers not only have great communication skills, but also use frameworks, consider their team’s input, and aren’t afraid to pivot when something’s not working.
Adaptability
Adaptability is a crucial trait for any effective manager. Unexpected challenges and urgent tasks can arise at any moment, requiring you to quickly shift priorities and remain focused on the bigger picture. Being flexible means changing your management style to match different situations and team needs. Adapting your leadership style helps guide your team through change with confidence and calmness. By embracing change, staying mindful, and regularly stepping outside your comfort zone, you build the resilience needed to lead effectively.
Active Listening
Practicing active listening is more than being a listener. It’s about understanding your team’s concerns and feedback. Active listening helps build mutual trust between you and your team, boosts collaboration, and smooths out the work process. Taking the time to understand what your team is saying displays strong emotional intelligence. Another trait that makes a good manager and leader.
Self-awareness
Great managers know how to strike the balance between pushing for growth and creating space to breathe. It starts with being self-aware about your own professional development, recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, and taking responsibility for your errors. When you’re aware of how you show up, you’re better equipped to lead with empathy, manage conflict, and build a culture of trust. The more in tune you are with yourself, the better you’ll be at understanding your team needs and adjusting your approach to help them thrive.
5 Tips on How to be a Good Manager
Every manager has their own unique style to lead their team members and that’s great. Here are 5 tips to help you stand out and create a collaborative work environment for everyone.
Get to know your people
Spend time with your team members to get to know them on a personal and professional level. Building trust with your entire team takes time, but learning about their goals and interests can help you deepen your connection. As you create this bond, you contribute to building a positive work environment. Ultimately, increasing your company’s employee satisfaction, higher employee retention rates, and boost in professional growth.
Lead by example
You know the famous saying ‘actions speak louder than words,’ well great leaders do exactly that. To be a successful manager, it’s important to demonstrate your skills while also knowing when to step back. Leadership is less about doing all the work yourself and more about guiding and empowering your team. Giving your team some autonomy shows trust and fosters independence. When you lead by example, your direct reports are more likely to follow in your footsteps.
Give and receive feedback
Having a growth oriented mindset means asking questions and giving honest feedback. As a manager, you must be willing to receive feedback as much as you give. This mutual exchange builds trust and sets your team up for success. A continuous feedback loop is essential not only for your own professional growth, but also for your team’s development. It helps team members set meaningful goals and gain clarity on where they can improve.
Have empathy
Showing empathy helps your employees feel heard and supported. But how can you spot a poor manager? One clear sign is a lack of emotional connection—managers who can’t relate to or empathize with their team often struggle to lead effectively. You don’t need formal management training to learn how to show empathy, yet, it’s still uncommon in many workplaces. Showing empathy is even more important with younger generations. One study estimates around 73-76% of Gen Z’ers are more motivated when they know their boss genuinely cares about them.
Take care of yourself
An essential part of being a manager is taking care of yourself. In order to support for your team and make important decisions, you need to be well-rested and mentally recharged. Take time to indulge in your hobbies and spend time away from work. Prioritizing your well-being isn’t just good for you, it sets a positive example for your team to do the same. That way, when you’re on the clock, you feel refreshed, energized, and ready to take on the everyday challenges of being a manager.
Becoming a Better Manager Starts Now
Being a confident manager isn’t just about soft skills, it’s also about having the right tools to stay organized and support your team effectively. In fact, “84% of managers would be more present if tasks were automated.” This means that the right tools could be a key component that can make a difference in your management style. Rather than spending your time on manual work, focus your energy on important tasks and growing your team members.
Download our global report filled with insights about the challenges managers face daily. More importantly, how tech saved them time and connected them to their team. Read our report and you’ll never spend another day googling “how to become a good manager.” It’s never too late to reclaim your time.
