What is a good Manager?

Throughout my humble professional years, I have come across many courses and discussions about management and the definition of a manager: What is a manager? How to best manage? Should one be tough or easy-going? Where to draw the line? And the ultimate question, how to be the best manager?

Well, there is no answer to these questions. This is the beauty of it. A good manager cannot be defined by a certain behavior or a simple method.

First thing first; a manager should start by setting his objectives. This latter should represent the company’s goals as well as his team’s and what he wishes to do and where he wants to take them.

It should not be just about the end results and performance, or just about having the coolest and ease up activity.

Certainly a manager is in his position to achieve goals and improve the performance but he is also there to make sure his team is performing and improving while remaining happy about their work and loyal.

This said, a manager should start by knowing his team in order to define the balance between tolerance and hard work.

Not all entities are similar, hence the need to adapt to each and find the best way to manage. Some need assistance while others need guidance or direction. This is where a manager steps it. It is up to him to find out what each member of his team needs and provide him with the best method and guidance to accomplish the task at hand. However, it is also his job to make decisions in order to achieve the best performance.

It is not about pleasing everyone; it is about the best interest of all, in the long term.

The best interest of his team and his/her company. A manager should think and plan long run and try to be ready for any potential outcome. It is not about today’s results, it is about the future, what is going to come and how ready the team will be to face it.

There is no definition of a good manager. Each one of us has his expectations, and a manager is the leader who can make the best for every situation and improve the daily work on different levels.