5 Traits That Separate Good and Great Managers

Employees are Crucial

A company’s most valuable asset can be its people. For many businesses, its employees—the work they do, and the passion they feel—can be the difference between success and failure.

Over the years, the value of a corporation’s human capital has become increasingly acknowledged. It is why Google offers delicious, free meals and snacks in the office and why Airbnb provides its employees with an annual stipend of $2000 to travel the world. Although extravagant employee perks are enticing, nothing can impact an employee’s engagement, loyalty, and productivity like a great manager. The findings from both Google’s Project Oxygen and The Predictive Index’s People Management Survey corroborate this sentiment. Time and time again, “people rely on their managers to make clear decisions and facilitate collaboration across teams”, found the internal researchers of Project Oxygen[1].

How to Become a Great Manager

It has been established that great managers are the key to a productive and effective workforce. But this begs two questions: How can we become great managers? How can we curate an environment in which personal growth, energy, and passion levels are on full throttle?

The answer to these questions can—at least, in part—be found in research conducted by Google’s Project Oxygen and The Predictive Index’s People Management Survey. The research from both these studies found that the difference between a good manager and a great manager can be boiled down to a few, nuanced traits.

Here is a list of 5 traits that all great managers share.

1. Strong Decision Making
Being a strong decision maker is a core component of being able to lead others. The ability to make clear, quick decisions on tough matters is a skill that 78% of great managers share, according to The Predictive Index’s People Management Survey[2].

2. Listens well
As our economy evolves, so do our needs in the workplace. Employees want to know that their managers are concerned with their well-being and success, more so than ever before. Managers need to make a conscious effort to let employees know they are valued. This can start by listening to what employees have to say, whether it be in the meeting room or in the coffee lounge.

3. Having a Strong Work Ethic
Lead by example. Old adages often hold some truth, and this one is no exception. Employees need a role model that they can respect. If the manager does not work hard, how can anyone expect any different from the employees?

4. Supporting career development & discussing performance
Great managers will support their employees beyond the scope of the job. It is crucial that employees are treated as people and that they are recognized as having a purpose and goal with regards to professional development. It could be helpful to have a meaningful conversation with employees about their career aspirations and their employee performance. These kinds of conversations show empathy and concern for the employee’s well-being, which in turn, can help improve worker morale and energy.

5. Being honest
Employees want to be recognized as hard-working individuals, not monotonous machines. To respect the work that they do for their organization, it is important to be honest at all times. This signals to employees that they are appreciated. This trait plays into how important it is to have meaningful, constructive conversations.

What to Take Away

From the research findings above, it is clear that great managers do more than just manage employees, in the traditional sense. Great managers are able to personalize the work of their employees. They are listeners, friends, and advocates. They care about the well-being and development of their employees, and they make sure their employees know that. So next meeting, it might be worthwhile to take a moment and engage with your employees on a personal level. Start a conversation and show employees how much you value their work.

Of course, the manager-employee relationship is a two-way street. Great managers need also need great employees. Want to learn more about how you can use the Predictive Index System® to hire the best employees possible? Click here to request a free demo today.

[1] https://rework.withgoogle.com/blog/the-evolution-of-project-oxygen/

[2] https://www.predictiveindex.com/management-survey-2018/