What Makes an Effective Manager?
In my nearly twenty years of technical work experience, I’ve noted the following qualities, habits, and management styles that made an effective manager out of all of those I most enjoyed working for:
- An effective manager makes cogent statements, yet quickly incorporates new information into his evaluation processes.
- The most effective manager strongly sticks to his or her positions until new, significant ideas surface that disprove the validity of said positions.
- An effective manager is expectant yet understanding. That is, she insists on getting the job done right, but shows compassion and understanding for her workers when they run into legitimate problems meeting her goals.
- The effective manager is demanding while at the same time, compromising and giving.
- Soft-spoken firmness characterizes the most effective managers.
- An effective manager knows how to do the job yet teaches and empowers his employees to do it too.
- An effective manager is positive but realistic.
- Effective managers are direct yet sensitive. They clearly express their expectations and opinions but do so in the least offensive and hurtful ways.
- An effective manager is happy yet sincere.
- A most effective manager is easy to please. Yet he instills a sense of true accomplishment among his employees. He never publicly trivializes what his workers accomplish, even if it’s simple or just a small amount. He never publicly puts down those who report to her.
- An effective manager is supportive in front of other groups.
- Competence describes an effective manager. The most effective managers know the important technical details of the tasks that their departments are performing.
- Effective managers create a positive, low stress work environment, where employees feel valued, respected, and sufficiently challenged.
The most effective managers exhibit all of the traits discussed above. So look for them next time you’re shopping for a new manager. The most productive management styles are easy to spot, especially if you can meet other people working for the manager. Keep the above in mind as well, if you want to learn how to become an effective manager yourself.