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What are the defining characteristics of a good potential manager?

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“Effective people are not problem-minded; they're opportunity-minded. They feed opportunities and starve problems.” Stephen Covey

Managers are called upon to fulfill a variety of tasks. Management Development can ensure your company’s future leaders are true problem-solvers and opportunity makers. Here are some skills to look for and help build in a good manager:


  • Excellent time management (or better known as working smarter). Every individual is guaranteed the same amount of time. The best employees are those who learn to manage their projects within that time frame. This is probably the single most important skill a manager can have.
  • Effective communication. Good managers both listen and provide specific, clear and concise feedback to their employees. They leave no room for ambiguity.
  • Positive role modeling. A good manager leads by example and recognizes when others do the same. They praise abundantly and offer criticism carefully.
  • Financial skills. Depending upon their role, many managers are required to possess competent financial and budgetary skills. For managers in a creative realm, these qualities may not be as important. However, at some point they will be called into a financial discussion, and they must possess enough working knowledge to hold their own.
  • Effective and responsible interpersonal relationships. The Achilles heel of many first-time managers is to maintain close friendships with their now subordinates. This almost always leads to fissured relationships.
  • Team builder. While not all managers naturally fill this role, the best understand the practical and political importance of building the team in order to get the job done. For those who may not have subordinates, self-motivation is paramount.



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