The 7 Quality Skills to be a Marvelous Manager 📃✔️

"Having a good manager is essential, like breathing. And if we make managers better, it would be like a breath of fresh air"

~ Michelle Donovan

1. Transparency

Transparent communication is an important culture driver. When managers provide honest, authentic communication, employees feel like a true partner in the business, and more connected as a result. They’re also more likely to align with the company, even when they don’t totally agree with decisions. This creates a sense of value that increases employee engagement. 

2. Strong Team Communication

Good managers are great communicators. They’re effective at communicating with their employees, and they take the time to listen and understand what’s really happening within the organization. Having managers who are active listeners and genuinely care about employee concerns are qualities of a great workplace that build employee loyalty and performance. More often than not, project mistakes come down to a communication error rather than a performance issue. As a result, effective communication is vital, both for completing tasks as well as boosting team morale. 

To streamline conversations, create a communication plan for your team. A communication plan defines your different communication channels and what each should be used for. This helps team members not only know where to communicate, but how to communicate within each channel.

3. Trust

61 percent of employees said that trust between senior management and an employee was a significant contributor to job satisfaction. When considering what makes a good manager, building and maintaining trust with employees is paramount to fostering a positive work environment. When employees feel they can trust their manager, they also trust the decisions management makes and are dedicated to the organization’s goals and vision as a whole. Managers that do not prioritize trust can lose the respect of their employees, which can have a devastating effect on productivity, loyalty, and ultimately employee turnover. 

4. Empower Your Team

A key component to building a strong organizational culture is empowering and putting trust in your team. Good company culture drives motivation and increases employee retention. It’s also good for morale, which boosts productivity and well-being.

To show your team that you trust them, delegate responsibilities and make work processes collaborative. Check in and ask them for feedback—both on your performance, as well as on the success of the project. Knowing that you value their opinion will strengthen their trust in you and help them to feel more confident and empowered in their work. Show that you want the best for your team by prioritizing their aspirations when possible, and taking responsibility when you fall short. One way of showing your team that you care about their growth is to support them in creating professional development plans.

5. 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 takes the time to truly understand their employees’ abilities and interests and then aligns them with the company’s needs. Good managers consistently recognize 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 in employee retention. According to one Gallup report, workplaces emphasizing employee strengths increased retention by up to 72 percent in high turnover industries. 

6. Optimism

Everyone struggles with frustration and negativity from time to time including managers. But when a team or employee is really struggling, a manager with a negative mindset will do nothing but fan the flames of despair. It’s challenging to be motived or excited when you’re around a lot of negativity. Successful managers understand they need to lead by example and infuse their workplace environment with optimism and positive energy in every way possible. 

7. 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. This means 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.