Qualities of a Good Manager

In my 20 years as part of the labor work force, I've often reflected upon the qualities exhibited by my good, and not-so-good, managers. In short, good managers are people that can motivate others, get the job done, and still maintain the respect of their workers. Of course, no two effective managers will be completely alike, since personality is intertwined with technique. Still, there are definitely some common characteristics that my most successful managers shared in common. In general, the following five qualities were part of all of their management styles:

1. Confidence. The managers I respected and trusted the most were confident people who displayed great passion and energy in their leadership roles. They never seemed to be "caught off guard". Even if they were unfamiliar with a given situation, such as when there were changes to be made in a company's processes, they would continue displaying their confidence by leading the way in eagerly learning and mastering the new topic.
2. Sincere Recognition. Managers that notice the personal efforts of their subordinates will usually be rewarded by more genuine effort. It is important to realize, however, that different individuals will enjoy different types of recognition. Some will enjoy being recognized in front of their other coworkers, such as during a department or staff meeting. Personally, I much more appreciated a simple call into my manager's office with a private, "Just wanted to let you know that I think you did a great job on such-and-such project."
3. Emotional Intelligence. A good manager is aware of his own weaknesses, and thoughtful of others. He understands the professional and personal needs of his subordinates, respects their need for a work life balance, and listens to their concerns. Managers that treated me in this "caring" way validated me as a person which, in turn, encouraged me to give more of myself in whatever job I was completing for them.
4. Great Communicator. A good manager must be able to articulate their thoughts and respond to questions effectively and "on the fly." He must be able to speak to different people in "their language" finding out what will motivate and influence them individually. Great communication also involves listening skills. My most effective managers were open to learning from others, and in this way, they were able to build productive relationships with their subordinates and other professionals.
5. Acknowledge Responsibility. I had a few managers that never seemed to be able to admit when they had exercised poor judgment. Perhaps they felt it would be a sign of weakness. The truth is, my coworkers and I always felt more drawn to, and more respect for, a manager who admitted to making a poor decision. That's not exactly the same as apologizing, but it meant acknowledging their personal responsibility in the matter which elicited greater respect for that manager in the long-run.

Of course, there's a lot more involved in being a good and effective manager than just the five traits listed above. But these qualities were unquestionably present in the most successful managers I've had the chance to work with, and they should definitely become part of the repertoire of any professional who is considering moving into a management role.