We need more great managers in our businesses, and we need people who inspire their teams to do more and to be more. We not only need great managers, but we also need great leaders.
As a business owner, your main concern should be to empower people, to find the rock-stars in your team and inspire them to lead the people they manage. Remember, middle managers and supervisors have influence over your team and your business performance is pretty much on their shoulders.
Today we look at 6 traits that great managers and leaders share.
1. Great Attitudes
A great attitude is what separates good managers from great ones.
Great managers exhale energy and passion. They are passionate about their job and the people they lead.
These leaders pay attention to what’s around them, their body language exudes confidence, and they know when to treat things lightly.
2. Communication and Transparency
Great managers communicate well with their employees. They don’t let ambiguity reign and they make sure their message is understood. Consequently, their team knows what to do and what is expected of them.
Great leaders are also transparent and get to the point quickly because they are straightforward even when delivering bad news. Leaders like this don’t hide information and tell their team exactly what’s on their mind.
3. Empower People
Great managers know their teams and each and every individual on their teams. They are interested and preoccupied with the well-being of each individual.
Leaders like this don’t dwell on people’s weaknesses; rather, they motivate, mentor and become interested in their team’s personal and professional development. This allows great leaders to put the right people in the right roles.
4. Accountability
Accountability is what drives great managers. They understand their teams’ success is their success, just like they share mistakes and failures. These types of leaders are solution-oriented and they have one-on-one meetings with each team member on a regular basis. When it’s necessary, they can intervene when conflicts arise and keep their teams focused.
5. Teammates
Great leaders are also great teammates. They are not afraid to get their hands dirty when needed, and to work side by side with their teams to get things done. Leaders who are great at what they do show people how to succeed and support them along the way.
6. Flexibility
Great managers know the success of a business is all about its people. They understand the importance of keeping their employees happy and motivated. Managers like these know when to be flexible so that the whole team can benefit. They listen to people’s feedback and are genuinely interested in helping each person achieve their best.
It Takes Practice to Be Great
Identifying early on great managers among your team is the fastest way to ensure the success of your business.
Listening to and empowering your rock stars to become better is creating a culture where people feel motivated and know their opinions are listened to and taken into consideration.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of being busy with growing your business, however, keep in mind that the long-term success of your business rests with your people.
Over to you – how do you motivate your managers into great leaders?