Many employees strive to become managers. But in some cases, these individuals do not know what skills and qualities they must have to succeed in this position. So, if one of your professional goals is to become a company leader, you should learn about the qualities of a good manager and work towards achieving them.
According to John C. Maxwell, “Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” With that in mind, you must stand out as a good leader and separate yourself from mediocre or poor managers.
What Makes a Good Manager Stand Out?
Becoming a manager is not easy. But the steps you need to take can be learned and improved upon until you are ready to make the transition. Like most other types of competition, you must prove yourself on the field to become a good manager.
Managers and company leaders often feel stressed because of the many items they must handle at one time. In many cases, managers are held solely responsible for the failure of various projects and the performance of the team(s) they lead. In contrast, the entire team is credited for a project’s success. It is important to understand and accept this before you become a manager.
Because leaders must often juggle many responsibilities, there are some qualities that you should possess if you want to move forward with becoming a manager. These include the following:
- Aligning the organization’s purpose with your team’s goals
- Demonstrating empathy with your team
- Delegating tasks effectively
- Setting clear goals and expectations for your employees
- Making communication a priority
- Striving to bring out the best in your team members
- Leveraging updated technology
- Setting up your team(s) for success
- Being inspirational
Mistakes You Should Not Make as a Manager
In addition to the qualities that make a good manager, there are also several mistakes that company leaders should not make, such as:
- Micromanaging employees and team members
- Giving employees the solutions to their problems or challenges
- Failing to define goals for your employees
- Not prioritizing work
- Leading with an egoistic mindset
- Displaying favoritism to employees
Unfortunately, new and experienced managers can make such mistakes, and doing so can immediately change the course of your career negatively. Therefore, you must avoid making any of these blunders before and after you reach the management level at your company.
Are You Ready to Move into a Management Role?
If you’re ready to move into a management role, you must possess the necessary qualities. You could also prepare by using various resources, such as business and management-related books, accessing websites, and talking with a mentor about how you can best move forward.
