Thursday, January 19, 2006

How good is your Manager?

What makes you a good manager? What are the most important qualities to be an effective manager?

Such questions must have crossed your mind if you are a manager or want to become an effective manager. Good managers do not necessarily make good leaders and good leaders do not necessarily make good managers. Below are few tips to become an effective manager:

  • Ability to communicate effectively:
    Communication is the most important thing to be a good manager. It requires you to communicate with people at all levels such as client, peers, or subordinates. A good manager should be open and direct towards its team members.
  • Ability to provide a shared vision:
    A good manager is described as having a vision of guiding the team members towards its direction and the ability to articulate that vision. It was once said that a “Good Manager is someone who lifts us up, gives us a reason for being and gives the vision and spirit to change."
  • Should have integrity:
    A good manager is remembered more by his/her actions than words. Thus, it is the manager who sets an example for the team. A good manager demands dedication to, and expression of, moral practices. Also, a good manager should be able to creating standards for ethical behavior for oneself and living by these standards.
  • Should have a positive attitude:
    A manager who has a negative attitude –may destroy the moral of team. . A good manager should have a positive attitude and should be filled with enthusiasm with a feeling of “We can do” attitude. A good manager with a positive attitude is committed to his/her goal express the commitment through optimism.
  • Must have team building skills:
    Above all, a good manager must have effective team-building skills which mean that manager must be able hold the team together in a common purpose toward the right objective. A good manager must be bale to transform a group of strangers to a single cohesive unit. In addition, a good manager must understand the process and dynamics required for this transformation. A good manager must also have understanding of different team players styles and how to capitalize on each of these styles at the appropriate time.
  • Should have effective problem-solving skills:
    Although a manager is said to share problem-solving responsibilities with the team; however, a good manager should have excellent problem-solving ability themselves.
  • Ability to remain calm under pressure:
    In the typical IT scenario where projects would be delivered on time, under a fixed budget and with no major problems or obstacles to overcome; it is required for a manager to remain calm under pressure situations. A good manager when encounters a stressful event, considers it interesting, and feels he/she can influence the outcome and view it as an opportunity.

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