The 10 essential qualities to become a good manager: the complete guide

Becoming a manager is often the result of a promotion, but what is usually good news can quickly become a problem if you don't have the keys to becoming a good manager.

When you're part of a team, you're always hoping for the right manager to motivate you and provide a pleasant working environment. This time, it's you who has to manage a team, but can you be the manager you'd like to have?

Being a good manager isn't innate, and seeking to become one by taking a step back (and ending on our article 😉 ) means you've already done some of the work.

With our management tips, rest assured you'll become the manager we'd all like to have. ⭐

See all software Employee Engagement

The role of a manager within the company

By definition, the manager is the one who directs and leads. You can think of your role as follows: management is like driving a bus in the image of your team. 🚌

You're responsible for the well-being of every member of your team, while ensuring that certain objectives are met. It's as if you had to get them to their destination on time, safe and sound.

Within a company, the manager takes on a key role that is obviously not easy to grasp, especially at first. He is the one who supervises and encourages the members of his team, as well as being the link with the directors, other managers and their teams.

As a manager, it's up to you to have the right attitude at work and certain qualities , which we're going to talk about without further ado. 👇

10 qualities of a good manager

#1 Develop your leadership

Leadership is the foundation of a manager. So it's crucial to your success (and you'll need it for the other 9 qualities).

A good manager must be able to inspire and motivate his or her team. This is the basis of a productive and positive working environment.

This role goes far beyond simply managing tasks. You need to provide a clear and inspiring direction for the future, as this is what engages your team and ultimately creates a climate of trust.

But what does this actually mean?

☝️ A manager must do more than simply delegate tasks. They must also explain the context and importance of each project, to show their team how their work fits into a wider objective.

Your team knows where they're going and what you expect of them. This is key to improving overall company performance and employee commitment. A good leader positively influences his team, which has a positive impact on the company's results.

💡 A Gallup study conducted in 2021 reveals that teams with a highly engaged manager show 21% more productivity within a company.

#2 Be ambitious and motivate your troops

Now that you've got the basics of leadership down, it's important to understand how the position of manager should inspire and motivate your team. And, as we established earlier, this is a crucial step in creating a healthy and productive working environment for your team.

Your ambition embodies your willingness to aim high and push your limits, and motivation is the key to getting your team members to share your ambition and aspirations. In a way, ambition is the engine of your bus, and motivation is its fuel.

As you can see, to be a good manager, it's vital to be both ambitious and able to motivate your team. It's this winning combination that transforms an ordinary team into a dynamic, high-performance force, capable of overcoming challenges and reaching new heights. And that's what your team will be after this article.

☝️ As a manager, you need to set high AND achievable goals for your team, while inspiring members with your enthusiasm and confidence. It's this attitude that dramatically increases the productivity and innovation your team demonstrates.

#3 Communicate effectively with your team

After motivation comes communication.

In business, effective communication is the cornerstone of successful management. It ensures that all team members understand objectives, expectations and procedures. It's a necessary step in creating a transparent, open working environment.

As a manager, developing good communication skills enables you to ensure effective team management. The result will be a more harmonious and productive working environment, in which every member of your team can feel valued and understood.

#4 Stay available and listen

For a manager, this aspect is complementary to our previous point. It's not enough just to communicate with your team members for it to be effective.

Being available and attentive to your team is a fundamental aspect of effective management.

Your aim is to listen carefully to all your team members, so as to be able to respond appropriately to their needs and concerns. It's also a way of building trust and creating an open, inclusive corporate culture. A manager who actively listens is better equipped to guide his or her team to success.

What does it mean in concrete terms?

☝️ As a manager, take the time to listen to the ideas, suggestions, worries and concerns of every member of your team. By doing so, you show that you value their contribution and involvement, in a spirit of respect.

#5 Be benevolent

Being a caring manager is essential for any manager who wants to create a healthy work environment conducive to personal and professional development .

Being a benevolent manager fosters an environment in which respect, empathy and support are given pride of place. These aspects are all the more important as they enhance the well-being of your employees, who will be nothing but satisfied with a working climate conducive to better performance.

In the end, they will emerge more committed, loyal and motivated.

☝️ Show your appreciation for your employees' efforts and your support in difficult times. As a manager, you need to show that you encourage open-mindedness and collaboration, while maintaining a safe space for the expression of ideas and concerns.

#6 Don't ignore conflict

Every team, no matter how close-knit and united, is prone to conflict. As a manager takes his bus to its destination, it's not out of the question that a clash or an accident may occur. But what can you do?

Your job as a manager is to manage this situation as well as possible, because unresolved conflicts can sap the morale of your employees and end up creating a toxic environment. Knowing how to manage conflict is an essential quality for the job of manager. It's better to put out a fire before it starts.

The manager's objective is to maintain a healthy climate and a productive team dynamic, thanks in particular to his or her communication skills.

☝️ Identify tensions early on to resolve problems. Your role as manager is more like that of a mediator here. Organize meetings and open discussions to put things straight. Encourage free and honest expression to find solutions, and failing that, compromises. As a manager, be sensitive to everyone's opinions, so you can better understand their concerns.

#7 Demonstrate serenity

Management, conflict management, communication... so many notions that add to the burden on your shoulders as a manager, to the point of causing you to become stressed too .

Serenity and calm are essential qualities for a good manager. It's what enables you to handle stressful situations with confidence.

What's more, this attitude has positive repercussions on your employees, who will have more confidence in you, because a serene manager can make well-considered decisions, even under pressure. In short, you need to set an example for your staff!

This atmosphere encourages team cohesion and better problem management, which in turn promotes a more focused and efficient work environment.

What does this mean in practice?

☝️ As a manager, you need to remain calm in the face of challenges, and pass this attitude on to your team. This approach to management improves your staff's productivity and their level of job satisfaction, both of which are conducive to the success of your objectives.

#8 Be organized

Organization is an essential quality that comes after the relational and emotional sides, as it relies on clear communication, good stress management and solid relationships.

The ability to be organized is fundamental for a manager. It involves effectively managing different elements, such as time, resources and priorities.

In fact, this organization directly echoes other qualities we've touched on before: you're less prone to stress, more serene, more attuned to your colleagues and, in general, a much better manager. That's the advantage of a structured organization 😉

But then, how do you go about it?

🖕 Organize weekly and monthly meetings (collective or individual 1:1) to set priorities and objectives for everyone, review progress and check task allocation. Of course, this is also a time for constructive exchange, so keep your ear to the ground.

#9 Be humble

You've come to the end of our tips for becoming an excellent manager, but stay focused - we're not done yet.

After learning more about communication, stress and conflict management, you're well on your way to becoming the best manager you could be. But don't get ahead of yourself. You still need to remain humble, and that's one of the essential qualities of a good leader.

A good manager is capable of questioning himself in order to better understand what needs to be done to improve. This quality fosters learning, and above all, mutual respect and collaboration.

☝️ As a manager, you can develop bad habits that will undeniably have an impact on your team. Keep your feet on the ground: sometimes you don't have all the answers, or you make mistakes. This is where you need to express your confidence in your team: delegate and value their work. Ultimately, your staff will be more confident and motivated.

Feedback is the key to humility for a manager, and we talk a little more about it here. 👇

#10 Feedback is your best friend

In business, feedback is an absolute necessity for any self-respecting manager. When you give constructive feedback to an employee, you hope they'll come out of it greater and better. In fact, it's a key tool for professional and personal development.

Well, it's perfectly possible for a manager to ask his or her team for feedback (in fact, it's strongly recommended). Feedback allows you to take a step back, improve your leadership skills and, of course, all the other qualities that go with it.

Ultimately, this attitude contributes to a positive work environment, where personal growth and recognition are valued.

How do you go about it?

☝️ As a first step, take the time to thank your employees for their hard work and commitment. A valued employee to whom you express your appreciation will perform better and be more motivated, and you'll improve your relationship at the same time.

Secondly, ask your employees what you can do better, what the positive and negative points of your management method are. You can even ask them about their more general expectations of a manager. Thanks to this approach to management, you'll be aware of what works and what doesn't, while fostering a caring and more efficient working environment. Every opinion counts, enabling you to become the best manager you can be.

In practical terms, how do you become a good manager?

Putting these qualities into practice every day

You now know all the key elements you need to become a good manager and achieve your goals. All you need to do is put them into practice (and our expert advice is here to help)!

We've assured you that being a good manager isn't something you're born with, but with our advice, you've got no excuses.

Prioritize productive and benevolent communication, and be attentive to your colleagues so as to manage and organize your work and that of your team as effectively as possible. Prioritize structured management and listen to feedback. Your employees aren't there to take you down, so trust them.

Use HR software to support you

There are a number of human resources (HR) software programs designed to help boost employee and manager commitment. They'll help you get the bus to its destination in one piece and on time.

In more concrete terms, this software will assist you in your role as manager, notably thanks to feedback, exchange and steering modules.

One example is Zest by ZestMeUp, a Management Solution that helps you improve your practices as a manager. It provides tools to better listen, understand and lead your team. By implementing a culture of feedback and empowerment, through regular 1:1 reviews or the OKR method, you can improve employee commitment and overall team performance.

See all software Employee Engagement

Become the manager you wish you had!

If you've ever feared you'd fall short of the mark, you can rest assured that you now have all the answers you need to become a good manager.

By combining our advice and the 10 managerial qualities we've listed with dedicated HR software , management will no longer hold any secrets for you.

Either way, you're well on your way to becoming the manager you've always dreamed of having.