- You are here:
- Home »
- Blog »
- Managing »
- What Makes The Best Managers Different?
What Makes The Best Managers Different?
Being promoted to a management role is a significant achievement. For many professional people following a traditional career path, the step up to managing can be a challenge.
I guess in many respects that is not that surprising. After all there is a lot less predictability, certainty and everything is not within your control.
Yet many make that transition and are highly successful. So what is it in my experience that makes the best managers different?
They acknowledge that it’s a different role
Strange as it may seem, sometimes new managers in particular fail to recognise and acknowledge the role is different and keep doing what they always did.
They accept that they are at the start of a new learning curve
There is a huge difference between theory and practice. When you become a manager you go back to being a beginner.
This might be hard to accept but it is reality.
They know themselves
Everyone has areas where they are really good and areas where they are less proficient. Self awareness is a management strength. It allows you to do what you do best and as a result achieve better outcomes.
They get to really know their team
Your success is hugely influenced by what your team delivers. The best managers get this and really get to know what others do well and try to get them focused on their strengths.
They create a great environment
Yes work and results matter. At the same time so does the environment in which teams operate. It really is possible to create a supportive, fun and hard working environment.
They delegate
I said in a recent YouTube video that delegation is not optional. The reason it matters so much is that there is a limit on how many hours you have. If you don’t delegate you will always operate below your full potential.
They help others to be successful
If I look back at all of the people who I have been managed by over the last 35 years, one thing that set the best apart from the rest was that they were genuinely interested in my career and my development.
They drop their ego
By that I mean they don’t allow their personal agendas to get in the way of success.
The Bottom Line: Managing will always be a challenge. At the same time there are often small changes that you can make that yield big benefits in terms of the results you achieve.
Duncan Brodie helps accountants and professionals achieve more career success. Learn more here.
About the Author Duncan Brodie
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.