15 Best Qualities of a Good Manager | Top Workplaces (2024)

6. Vision

The traits of a good manager include a vision that aligns with the company’s mission and values. Expressing that vision inspires and motivates employees to give their all. Employees who believe in the company’s vision will invest more because they know it will make a difference.

7. Accountability

Good managers are autonomous and require minimal supervision. They’re also accountable for their own mistakes. Good managers practice constructive accountability through their actions and leadership.

This is important because managers need to instill in others the responsibility of being accountable. Instead of blaming others for mistakes or poor decisions, good managers focus on actionable ways to get better results moving forward.

8. Employee development

High-performing companies such as Top Workplaces winners know that unleashing employee potential depends on manager support and development. A great manager is also a coach who truly takes the time to truly understand their employees’ abilities and interests and then aligns them with the company’s needs.

Good managers consistentlyrecognize and reward good work, contribute to a happier workplace culture, and provide better business outcomes from improved employee engagement. This can lead to an increase inemployee retention. According to oneGallup report, workplaces emphasizing employee strengths increased retention by up to 72 percent in high-turnover industries.

Learn more: Benefits of Training and Development

9. Delegation

Knowing how and when to delegate is one of the characteristics of a manager that can help them focus on essential tasks while allowing others to grow and develop. A good manager’s qualities include knowing which tasks to delegate and giving credit where credit is due.

Examples of things to delegate include:

• Minor, one-time projects.
• Administrative tasks and preparation for meetings.
• Time management when there are too many jobs with competing deadlines.
• Ongoing, longer-term projects that benefit from consistent ownership.
• Tasks that employees enjoy or have specific knowledge to complete.
• Onboarding and training of new team members.

10. Availability

While the ability to lead, delegate, and make quick decisions is critical, when you take a closer look at the characteristics of a good manager, they essentially all boil down to effective communication.

When managers make themselves available, employees feel heard and valued by the organization. This makes it easier to determine areas that need improvement and take actionable steps to foster a better workplace.

11. Responsibility

A good manager’s traits include understanding each individual’s role in the business’s success. This means managers take responsibility for their actions and the actions of their employees. They look for ways to empower their employees and help them develop their skills while becoming more autonomous.

12. Optimism

Everyone struggles with frustration and negativity from time to time — including managers. But when a team or employee struggles, a manager with a negative mindset will do nothing but fan the flames of despair.

It’s challenging to be motivated or excited when you’re around negativity. Successful managers understand they need to lead by example and infuse their workplace environment with optimism and positive energy in every way possible.

13. Leadership and being a role model

Leadership is about more than giving out orders or managing a group of individuals. The qualities of a good manager and leader reflect the ability to motivate, inspire, and influence. They also promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

A good leader is also a good role model. Their actions speak louder than words, and they understand the importance and lasting impact of supporting employees in all areas of the organization, from the very bottom to the top.

14.Technical skills and industry knowledge

Great managers have well-developed technical skills and possess a wealth of industry knowledge. They know when to lend their expertise, provide support, and help the team find the best solutions. The most successful managers are in touch with their employees and are adept at mitigating unnecessary challenges.

15. Fair treatment and evaluation

The best managers don’t fall prey to favoritism. They know how to treat and assess their employees fairly. Great managers also understand the importance of employee appreciation, looking for opportunities to recognize their employees and promote their accomplishments with senior leaders.

Signs of poor management in your organization

Effective managers are essential to organizational success. Managers can also be the reasonwhy employees quit. That’s why it’s important to recognize warning signs of poor managers, create a development plan, and realize when the fit might not suit your company and its culture.

Signs of ineffective managers include:

• Focusing on the “what” and ignoring the “how.”
• Micromanaging projects rather than offering constructive feedback.
• Failing to see employees as individuals with unique needs.
• Quiet quitting and quiet firing due to mismanagement
• Taking undue credit rather than promoting employee success.
• Blaming others for failures rather than taking accountability.

How to measure managerial effectiveness

If you want to maximize performance and make informed decisions for your organization, one of the best first steps is to assess manager effectiveness. Here are some ideas to consider that will reveal important employee engagement insights and help your company achieve its goals:

• Administer employee engagement surveys:An anonymous, research-backed survey that assesses the employee-manager relationship is a credible way to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• Establish and monitor KPIs:Key performance indicators provide a data-driven performance measure that tracks manager and company progress.
• Watch employee turnover:While it is a red flag, turnover may not be entirely within the manager’s control. Take a closer look to determine the root cause.
• Observe employee growth:The best managers care about their employees’ concerns. They encourage learning and development, and their employees are rewarded with internal promotions.
• Measure team performance:Managers aren’t effective if teams aren’t achieving results. It’s not the only measure of manager performance, but an important one.

Tips for hiring the best managers

What qualities do you look for in a manager? It’s essential to take the time — and the right steps — to find the best fit for the job, starting early in the recruitment process. While we explored the qualities of a good manager, spotting these characteristics can be challenging. Here are some helpful tips to try:

• Look for internal candidates who exhibit the qualities of a good manager and promote employees from within your organization.
• Highlight your company mission, vision, and values on your sites and recruitment channels.
• Build your employer brand to highlight what’s most important to your culture.
• Promote employer recognition awards, especially those your company has received for culture excellence.
• Encourage employees to refer and recommend those in their networks that would be a good match for your company.
• Expand your talent reach, especially when remote work opportunities exist. Company profiles that promote your culture can go a long way toward a positive online reputation.See the Top Workplaces directory.

Examples of interview questions to ask potential managers

1. Describe how you handled a personal or team failure.
2. What do you identify as your greatest success as a manager?
3. How do you build employee trust and encourage connection?
4. Describe a leader or former manager you admire and why.
5. What is your favorite part of being a manager?
6. Discuss a team achievement and the management approach you used.
7. Can you share an example of a management challenge you overcame?

The power of great leadership

Trustworthy, effective managers make everyone’s lives easier. Their ability to self-manage autonomously gives senior leaders a minute to breathe and focus on more important, big picture leadership responsibilities. And their communication skills, one of the most essential qualities of a good leader, make employees feel heard, valued, and motivated to go the extra mile.

Smart organizations understand the importance of great leadership. They invest in leadership development training, hire from within, and empower employees to grow together. Not just because great leadership improves employee engagement and morale — because it’s the right thing to do for your people.

Be recognized as a Top Workplace for Top Managers

Want to see how other award-winners use the recognition? See the Top Workplaces for Top Managers award andthe Top Workplaces for Leadership award for more information.Does your organization deserve recognition? Take the first step toward building and branding a company that attracts the right talent. Nominate your company for a Top Workplaces award.