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What do you look for in a good manager? We look at 4 attributes to attract and retain good consultants, and what employees (current and potential) look for.
1. Talking the Talk
Communication is crucial when it comes to being a great boss. Employees want a manager who listens, is transparent in their dealings, is open and honest and who earns and keeps their trust.
A great communicator:
Instructs just as well as listens
Makes the speaker feel heard and understood
Is transparent in behaviour
Says what they mean and mean what they say
Keeps staff abreast of important information ‘from the top’ (but protects them from the politics)
Enables a better understanding of staff or a workplace situation
Allows for better resolution of differences
Builds trust and respect
Creates an environment of creative ideas and problem solving
Positive and constructive communication
2. Attitude is everything
An amazing boss has an amazing attitude. They are respectful, approachable, confident, and empathetic and, perhaps most importantly, has self-respect.
The right attitude shows in these attributes:
A sense of fairness in dealing with people and issues
A positive and constructive approach
Maintaining a positive outlook (and a smiling face), even in the face of adversity
Infectious positive energy that brings out the best in colleagues and employees
Respect for others – which ultimately leads to being respected in return
3. A leader you’re happy to follow
Being a good leader means more than just bossing people around – they must have good values and a strong moral compass, be forward thinking, resilient, supportive, hardworking and inspire people to work hard.
Here’s why good leadership skills are a crucial part of being a great manager:
True leaders are able to instil trust, provide direction, and delegate responsibility amongst team members, boosting productivity as well as morale
A good leader has personality, courage, clear vision with ambition to succeed, resulting in the success of the team or project
Managers who are always asking ‘how can I improve myself?’ have the best tools to ask for improvement in their employees
Being a leader isn’t always glamorous – it takes skills and courage to make difficult decisions when needed
The humility required to be a good leader means he or she will take ownership for a mistake or failure, but push the praise on to others for a win, resulting in success and an elevated profile for all team members
4. Breaking it down
A top boss knows how to give great feedback, but often more important is being able to receive feedback, too. Consistency, honesty and humbleness in the face of criticism are key attributes for a great manager.
Feedback is important because:
It’s regular and in addition to performance reviews or annual evaluations
Appreciation for work consistently ranks as employees’ most desired employment perk
Positive feedback directly following a win affirms our good work. We all enjoy being recognized for our actions!
Feedback shows a leader is interested in how they can improve – and taking feedback from staff shows they want to create a solution that works for everyone
Evaluation of events, programs and policies is essential for improvement and progression – of teams, projects and people
Feedback encourages development opportunities for staff to cultivate everyone's talents, making for a more powerful team
So, there you go – it takes a team to make a leader. Important things to think about and continually work on. Have we forgotten anything? Have you got an examples of great leaders?