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Article #175: What Makes a Good Manager?

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What makes a "good" manager"? success. It can serve as the basis for
First of all, what is management? The decision making. If you bounce an idea
dictionary defines management as "the act off the mission statement and it sticks,
or art of managing: the conducting or you might do it. Otherwise, forget it.
supervising of something (as a For example, if you are in the business
business).". Sounds about right. But of developing the worlds best diagnostic
then, Atilla the Hun was a manager of software, you are not going to open a
sorts. Clearly, there is a big resturant to raise extra cash. That
difference between being a manager and would be way outside the mission
being a "good" manager who has earned the statement. See the point? All tactical
respect of the people. decisions should fit within the mission
It is interesting that the formal statement.
definition of management includes the Next, a "good" manager is a strategic
word "art", because in some respects, it thinker. The manager should have at
is an art as much as a science. Just least a five to ten year view of the
about anyone can learn the basic future. Where does the organization want
mechanics of becoming a manager. to be in five years and tactically, what
However, there is a certain amount of needs to be done today, tomorrow, next
mystery in defining that extra dimension week or next month to get there? Nothing
of skills and traits that elevates can undermine a manager faster than
certain people to a status of "good" having the organization perceive that the
manager. What is it? manager has no idea of direction.
Part of it is charisma. Charisma is a Then, there is integrity. A manager has
sort of magical quality of magnetic charm to be seen by his superiors and his
or appeal that makes people want to employees as being honest and forthright
follow the person who has it. Strong and doesn't play silly political games.
interpersonal skills are certainly No one likes a sleazy character that
critical to the creation of charisma, but cannot be trusted, especially if that
are by no means the only ingredient. The person is in charge of the careers of
perception of charisma must be earned people. Would you?
through accomplishment. The "good" manager fights for his/her
A strong leader gains the respect of his people and they know it. Everyone knows
her people by actions. Principal among that outstanding performers are amply
those actions is the involvement of the rewarded and substandard performers are
organization in decision making. How penalized or eliminated. People know
many times have you heard someone say, that the decisions made by the manager
"If I was running the show, I sure well thought out and are in the best
wouldn't do it that way!"? It is interest of the organization. An
important that the manager has the employee may not like the fact that the
mechanisms in place that allow ideas to manager had to cut their pet project out
bubble up from all corners of the of the budget. But if the employee is in
organization. No matter how smart we tune with the organization, he/she will
think we are as managers, we certainly understand why it had to be done.
don't know everything. Many of the very A "good" manager is highly selective when
best ideas come from the people on the building the "culture" the organization.
front line of the day to day business. People hired should "fit" the collective
We have to have a way for people to personality of the organization. Loners
express those ideas and get rewarded for and hotheads should not be merged into an
their contributions if the idea pans organization of people who genuinely like
out. Delegating many of the day to day each other and work well together. Think
tactical decisions in no way undermines about the best sports teams. The very
the manager's authority or responsibility best ones are those where the members are
for the bigger picture. Remember this: more like family than team mates.
If people have enthusiastic ownership of Finally, the "good" manager will spend
an idea, their idea, they WILL make it the extra time to collect the information
work, even if it is a BAD idea. If not, necessary to show how valuable the
they can torpedo even a GOOD idea. organization is to the company. This can
Recognizing people for their take any number of forms such as cost
contributions is one of the surest ways savings, cost avoidance, improved
to secure employee loyalty and to earn process, improved productivity, and so
the perception that the manager is smart on. Then the manager makes sure everyone
enough to understand that he/she doesn't knows about it, from top to bottom. It
know everything. Recognition and rewards is vital that the people feel they are
are not necessarily monetary. In some important and are making a contribution
cases, simple public recognition is all to the overall success of the company.
that is required. Recognition nurtures There is no magic formula for becoming a
the ego and differientiates people from "good" manager and the points mentioned
their peers. Recognition just makes a above are certainly not an exhaustive
person feel good and stimulates the list. Some of it is instinct, but it
desire to have it happen again. mostly stems from the gut-level
If a manager utilizes the people to help understanding that the most important
develop the organization's mission thing in an organization is its people.
statement, then the people will follow. Treat people with respect and dignity and
Having a solid and workable mission you will get that back in spades.
statement is critical to organizational






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