10 Traits to Master to Become an Exceptional Manager

“People don’t leave jobs, they leave managers.”
WSJ – What Do Workers Want From The Boss

Managers have the ability to lift an organization to greatness or demolish it. If you’ve worked, at all, you’ve likely experienced a dose of both. As an aspiring leader you want to ensure you’re taking all the lessons you learned from those toxic bosses, on what not to be, and gleaning from those you were inspired and motivated by. Believe it or not, there is a formula for success in this area and a host of professionals teaching business courses who have studied and learned from those who shone before. If you’re enrolled in a business college or looking into taking a business management degree, you’ll want to set your sights on what you’ll need to cultivate within yourself to ensure your team succeeds. We thought we’d offer our insights to give you a head start.

10 Traits to Master to Become an Exceptional Manager

Notice we didn’t say just ‘efficient’ or ‘effective’ but rather ‘exceptional’? Because you should be striving to understand and align yourself with the character traits that will catapult you to the pinnacle of success in your profession. This is how you will score and keep the position of your dreams in an industry of your choosing. Everyone is looking to fill the position of ‘Exceptional Manager’.

Here are the traits you need to master:

1. Impeccable Integrity

It is essential that your team know that they can count on you and feel proud to be a part of the team you are building. This is only possible, particularly in the long run, if you demonstrate time and again that you are authentic, honest and demonstrate impeccable integrity. You do what you say you’re going to do and do it. Period. (It is important then, that you take the time to truly consider what you will do and how you will do it, so that you can consistently deliver).

2. Healthy Work Ethic

Just like children, employees rarely do what you say; they do what you do. As such, you need to lead your team to success by having a healthy and positive work ethic. You inspire others in your wake and not only live up to your own potential, but you also see the potential in others and fuel them to achieve it. You lead by example and others are motivated to do their best so that they too can reap the collective rewards of the team’s efforts.

3. Clear Communications

The only way a team will be able to follow, and contribute creatively and powerfully, is if they understand the vision, the mission, the course you’re on and are reading from the same map to get there. This requires you to have a clear plan yourself and then communicate positively, openly, and effectively all along the journey. Your team needs to know they can approach you, confide in you and look to you for guidance, ideas, direction, or re-direction when needed. You ask, you listen, you engage, you show that you care, and you follow up with what is required (and a little more).

4. True Transparency

In keeping with the traits above you are open and honest with where things are at with your plan, with the team, with your goals and how team members are fairing with theirs. You are open, direct, and clear. If there are challenges, you face them. When there are successes to celebrate you share that too. Your team always knows where you stand, where the company stands, so that they can contribute passionately and proudly.

5. Genuine Trust

If you hire exceptional people, they need to be treated with exceptional consideration. You never micromanage because that would indicate you don’t really believe your team members can do the job they were hired to do. You lead and provide direction but then you give your team the respect and trust they deserve so that they can get creative and take ownership in the overall success of the company – because they have a stake in it.

6. Compassionate Action

Amazing employees stay with teams that offer them a sense of connection and community. To create this, managers must truly care about their community, their team members, really. As a compassionate manager, you know people will do their best if they feel respected, heard, and cared about. So, you keep your finger on the pulse of how your team members are doing, hear their concerns, provide suggestions for solutions, or ask them for theirs. But you are in it all with them and you encourage each member of the team to do the same for each other. This is how you build loyalty, and a community people want to grow within and stay with.

7. Goal Prioritizing & Planning

An ambitious team needs worthy goals and distinct plans on how to achieve those goals. As a visionary you set the tone for success and are constantly encouraging each member to strive for the next level of accomplishment, for themselves and for the whole. Sometimes you lead with the plan and provide direction; sometimes you include others and get collective buy-in on the way forward, always tapping the strengths within your diverse team members. You set the bar within reach but keep the work environment rich and exciting as you continue to evolve and encourage others to do the same as they work alongside you.

8. Eager Empowerment

Employees recognize when a manager truly has their best intentions at heart, wants them to succeed, and has their specific professional (and personal) goals in mind as they lead. You understand this and deliver. You know when to pass that baton to someone who’s ready. You clearly see the exceptional traits within your team members and play in, and plan, to them. You support when needed and motivate when needed. You know that your team’s success is your success.

9. Keen Appreciation

There is little an employee won’t do when they feel appreciated by those they work for and with. You understand this, and never take advantage of that fact. You keep a watchful eye on when a team member shows up for you, for another, does what’s needed on time, or goes above and beyond. You don’t withhold appreciation as a motivator; you consciously choose to see the efforts, large and small, and speak to or show your appreciation in ways that genuinely demonstrate your gratitude.

10. Adept Adapting

Leaders who can adapt, grow. (You know the Charles Darwin quote reflecting the opposite, “Adapt or die”). Exceptional managers are too busy adaptive-dancing with what comes their way and helping their team to do the same, to see anything but success. As an adept adaptor you can shift leadership styles, goals, best laid plans, to suit an evolving situation or marketplace. With your eye on the continually evolving prize, you can adjust to whatever is needed to get the end-result for your team and for those you serve.

These traits are essential, and teachable, but to become an exceptional business manager, they do go hand-in-hand with practical knowledge, including business operations and practices, accounting, sales, marketing and compliance and much more. If you’re looking to pursue your business studies online or even a business management degree online, we’ve got an opportunity for you.

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Quick Links to Fuel Your Success!

We want to make sure you have what you need to succeed! Check out these reference links:

• Business Management Courses at Anderson College
• What Do Workers Want from the Boss? – WSJ
• 10 Qualities of a Good Manager (And Why They’re Important) | Indeed.com