When it comes to work, managers can really make it or break it for their employees. A bad manager can cause their employees to feel unsupported by leadership, unsatisfied in their current role, and ultimately, burnout. A good manager leaves their employees feeling supported by leadership, empowered to complete their work independently and inspired to strive for more.  

In this issue of the Pulse, we discuss what qualities make for a good manager and the impact they can have on their employees. 

They’re accessible to their team. 

A good manager is accessible to their employees, whether they need their time off approved, have questions, or need their work reviewed. Now, this doesn’t have to mean being constantly available to your employees, as you likely have your own work that you need focus time to complete, but setting dedicated one-on-one time with each of your employees and getting back to them within a reasonable timeframe can go a long way. 

They recognize when their employees do a good job.  

Praising your employees for their hard work makes them feel seen and like what they do matters, but many employees aren’t receiving the recognition or praise they feel they deserve. In fact, according to a report by Gallup, only 22% of employees strongly agree that they get the right amount of recognition for the work they do. Meanwhile, the same report shows that employees who believe they are getting the recognition they deserve are more likely to be engaged and less likely to leave their job. 

They genuinely care about the well-being of their employees. 

As nice as it would be if employees could keep their personal life separate from work, that’s not always possible. Throughout the span of their working career, your employees are likely to go through obstacles in their life that will, understandably, bleed into their professional life—the death of a loved one, unplanned home renovations, a sick child, etc. A good manager recognizes this and does their best to support their employees through these times, whether that’s allowing them to have extended time off, working from home, or simply lending an ear. 

They try to uplift their team members. 

A good manager cares about the career growth and advancement of their team members, not just their own. This looks like giving them opportunities to learn new skills, bringing them onto bigger projects with senior leadership, and promoting employees into new roles as they see fit.  

In conclusion … 

Having a good manager is crucial to the well-being of your employees and the company overall. Whether promoting internally or hiring externally, choosing who to make a manager is a decision that should not be taken lightly.