12 Characteristics of a Great Manager

Apr 28, 2015

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LinkedIn seems to be rife with photos illustrating the FALSE DICHOTOMY of

leader vs manager/boss. Most of the likes and shares those images receive
are, in my opinion, little more than subtle jabs at a current or former
boss. Leader/manager isnt an "either/or" proposition but more like a slide
rule (with about 12 slides).
Great leaders and managers ARE out there but according to Gallup research,
onlyone person in ten has the natural intrinsic characteristics to be a top
performing manager. People don't like hearing that ... that some people have
what it takes and some just don't.
You know people right now that would never make it in management and at the
same time, you know people that you sense would be fantastic but haven't been
given the chance just yet. But at the same time, those same people will tell you
of a boss they once had that was horrible.
Fifty percent of all employees report leaving a previous position at some point in
their career ... to get away from a particular manager.
I did ... twice. But at the same time, I've had some managers who were visionary,
inspiring, and simply, well, great.
Many of those that we remember as great bosses, managers, or leaders had a lot
in common.
1. Personal Accountability
A manager with a strong sense of Personal Accountability has a strong internal
drive to be responsible for his or her own actions. This internal willingness to
"own up" shows in their actions and rather than make excuses, will make every
effort to identify the causes of poor decisions with the focus on correcting any
issues rather than on protecting his or her reputation or status. Those with a high
degree of Personal Accountability are humble, fair, and generous.

2. They Energize People

Great managers have an intrinsic way of making you want to work, want to
improve,want to contribute. They exclude energy themselves and that energy is
contagious. This isn't a spastic, bouncing-off-the-walls type of energy, but a quiet
reserve of high expectations that you know you'll hit your lofty goals as a
team and it's exciting!
3. They Overcome Obstacles
Great managers overcome adversity, challenges, and resistance (within and
without) to drive the outcomes they need to drive. They aren't "bulls in a china
shop" but they aren't pushovers either. They're well respected as performers by
both those they manage and those who outrank them. That respect comes
because they get things done and the more they get things done, the more
respect they garner.
4. They Motivate With Vision, Not Fear
No one can motivate an employee but great managers CAN provide an
environment where an employee self-motivates. That's what a clear vision does
and when a great manager uses vision to provide that environment of selfmotivation, employees are much more likely to perform well because they make
the organization's goals their own. When our motivators are matched to our job,
we, truly enjoy what we're doing and it shows. (Read: The ROI of a Job
Matching System)
5. People Over Politics
Wouldn't that be nice? Great managers can make decisions that are in the best
interests of the organization regardless of the political implications. Their
decisions are based on productivity, performance, and people. They think ahead,
plan for contingencies, don't get backed into corners, and make decisions not
based on what's convenient but based on the best interests of the people and
the organization as a whole.
6. They're Accountable For Those They Manage
Perhaps one of the more disconcerting aspects of being in management is the
knowledge that you're responsible for the actions of others but that just comes
with the territory. Being a great manager means you have to coordinate work,
delegate that work, and complete that work in coordination with others. They
know their employee's capabilities, interests, behavioral styles, and intrinsic
motivators and use that knowledge to drive top performance.
7. They're Optimistic AND Realistic
It's a delicate balance. Great managers are optimistic and have positive
expectations of those they manage but they also do everything possible to
ensure adequate resources are available to help employees achieve the
organization's objectives. They know their employees and know what they're

capable of ... and not capable of (yet) and they make decisions from that
framework.
8. They're Engaged ... and Engaging
Managers account for up to 70% of the variance in employee
engagement. An engaged manager has engaged employees so if your
employees are disengaged, you know where to look. Great managers help
employees set goals and priorities and focus on using an employee's strengths
and positive qualities to drive top performance.
9. They Believe Employees Are Adults, Not Children
Not just adults, but important adults. Great managers know that every position is
important, from the janitor sweeping the warehouse floor to the boardroom
decision makers. As such, each of these adults are expected to perform and
behave like adults which fosters an attitude where employees take charge of
their own destinies and make decisions in the best interests of the organization.
To expect anything less is to treat people like children.
10. They Simplify EVERYTHING
In my upcoming book, Simplified Leadership: How and Why The Best
Leaders Move People and Ideas From Complex to Simple, I outline how
great managers (and leaders) are consistently needed to communicate their
vision for an improved future, energize and inspire their teams, continuously spur
better results, all without breaking a sweat. But theres one area where the
cream of the crop excel they are experts at simplification.
"Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through
argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand."
Colin Powell
11. They're Teachers At Heart
Brimming over with patience, great managers not only know their stuff, but
they know their people and know where those people need development,
training, and knowledge. It isn't always product knowledge, sometimes it's
knowledge of how "the system" works and how to work it to get things
accomplished. Great managers know how to teach their employees in a way that
the employees retain the most.
12. They Communicate Very Well
In a recent Bloomberg survey, recruiters reported that Communication was
the skill most sought after, but the one they had the hardest time
finding.Communication is more than talking it's adapting your
communications so that your message isn't lost in translation. Communication is
listening to understand rather than listening to reply. Communication is the
transfer of information between two parties so that both know accurately what

was said. Communication is transparency. (Read: 10 Signs Your Team Needs

Communications Training)
So let's lose the false dichotomies and get on with identifying and promoting
those with the correct intrinsic traits to positions of management.