What makes a good manager (non-football)?

[mkrudden]

What makes a good manager?

What's your manager like? Is she / he a good one? Why / Why not?

At the place I work, we take 'training the trainer' very seriously. In places i've worked in the past though, "per x is good at their job, gets promoted, now responsible for 10 others doing their job well, no training given, seen as a bad manager".

Is that fair?

 

[coollino]

I've been supervisor for maternity cover and the most important things for me are: treating people like people, stay relaxed, be confident and don't take yourself too seriously/strive for power.

I'm fully aware I go a bit Brent now and again but I find it hilarious.

It is my first time as 'supervisor' and I basically learnt this off the supervisor I covered for who is completely the opposite of all of the above (who has now returned) and is the reason I am leaving.

 

[Eggs]

...don't think yourself too important. I was fortunate to get to a reasonably senior grade in the Civil Service but I never said folk 'work for me', I always said they 'work with me'. You're only as good as the folk in the team.

 

[ilikecheese]

Consistency. An effective manager can come in many styles. Being consistent is the key.

 

[mkrudden]

I've been supervisor for maternity cover and the most important things for me are: treating people like people, stay relaxed, be confident and don't take yourself too seriously/strive for power.

I'm fully aware I go a bit Brent now and again but I find it hilarious.

It is my first time as 'supervisor' and I basically learnt this off the supervisor I covered for who is completely the opposite of all of the above (who has now returned) and is the reason I am leaving.

...don't think yourself too important. I was fortunate to get to a reasonably senior grade in the Civil Service but I never said folk 'work for me', I always said they 'work with me'. You're only as good as the folk in the team.

Interesting stuff! When you got more managerial responsibility, were you given the training to train others? or left to pick it up yourselves?

Consistency. An effective manager can come in many styles. Being consistent is the key.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[coollino]

Interesting stuff! When you got more managerial responsibility, were you given the training to train others? or left to pick it up yourselves?



Couldn't agree more.

I didn't get any training, just worked it out myself. The people above me would give me advice now and again but pretty much worked out my own way pf running the department.

Personally, I don't feel training is necessary at that level.. maybe.

 

[Eggs]

Interesting stuff! When you got more managerial responsibility, were you given the training to train others? or left to pick it up yourselves?



Couldn't agree more.

..I think you have your own style, probably based on the type of person you are.

 

[COYBL25]

..I think you have your own style, probably based on the type of person you are.

This all day long.

I've never been a manager, but had plenty of bad ones and a few very good ones.

My best mangers, have all been great managers by being themselves and not managing from a manual.

In other words, they weren't bell ends before becoming mangers and didn't change into bellends, like some after they became managers.

The worst mangers are those that hide behind rules and regs, won't make decisions, bottle it, cover up their own inefficiencies by bullying and see anyone a grade beneath them as " staff " rather than colleagues.

You'll do anything for a good manager and the bare minimum for a bad manager - that's the way I used to measure my bosses.

 

[Minimeister]

Never ask anyone to do something you wouldn't do yourself
Always ask their opinion about the work, they're the ones doing the job
Have one to one's every month
Treat everyone the same
Be friendly with everyone and try and make people feel relaxed

 

[mkrudden]

This all day long.

I've never been a manager, but had plenty of bad ones and a few very good ones.

My best mangers, have all been great managers by being themselves and not managing from a manual.

In other words, they weren't bell ends before becoming mangers and didn't change into bellends, like some after they became managers.

The worst mangers are those that hide behind rules and regs, won't make decisions, bottle it, cover up their own inefficiencies by bullying and see anyone a grade beneath them as " staff " rather than colleagues.

You'll do anything for a good manager and the bare minimum for a bad manager - that's the way I used to measure my bosses.

Purely playing devil's advocate for the purposes of debate:

What if you wanted something but the manager denied it citing the 'staff handbook' or whatever, to cover their own back from their boss.

Would you consider them a bad manager?

 

[ilikecheese]

Always separate yourself as a manager. Don't be their friend. Be frandly if that is your style, but don't be their friend.

 

[ashwuk76]

Little phrase I was told when I was younger:

It's nice to be important but it's important to be nice.

Never forgotten it.

 

[ashwuk76]

In the civil service you have to be a bad manager to be promoted the good ones never get promoted. Or maybe that was just my department lol

 

[COYBL25]

Purely playing devil's advocate for the purposes of debate:

What if you wanted something but the manager denied it citing the 'staff handbook' or whatever, to cover their own back from their boss.

Would you consider them a bad manager?

Depends how it was put to me.

If it was from the " we can't do that, as I'm an arse covering bottle job, who won't do anything to jeopardise my next move up the ladder "

Or

" I'm really sorry, but it's just no viable due to X Y or Z ".

It's about communication and how it's put.

 

[nsno-chris]

I like beating my staff, harsh but fair