Great managers are ACES
There are many qualities great managers might have, but I’ve found 4 that run through the veins of all the great 
managers I’ve encountered. If you want to become a great manager, start with these 4 qualities, and work forward from here.
Accountable for results - too often managers worry about all the details. Great managers worry about, and hold themselves and their team, accountable for the results. This means no micromanaging, just a results-driven culture.
Communicates early and often - The earlier and more often a manager communicates with his staff, the better prepared they are for changes and the more they can align themselves with the mission and vision of the team. Letting your manager know about something that is going well, or not going so well, is a great way to get her/him on board with what’s going on, and a way to show that you have her/his best interests at heart.
Eager to learn, eager to teach - Times change. Jobs change. Learning stays the same, and great managers must constantly learn new ways to do old things, and do it eagerly, before it’s required. Additionally, the really great managers are also eager to teach their direct reports these new things, and how to go with the flow of change, to learn new skills sets and forget old ones.
Smiles all the time - No, I’m not saying great managers are like Pollyanna. I’m saying nothing can warm someone up to you like a big authentic smile, especially if you’re already an ACE. There’s just something about an authentic smile that makes folks smile back, or at least not annoy them enough to distract them from derailing your idea. Not only that, but if you smile when you’re doing something unpleasant, or before you take that upset customer’s call, you’re bound to be more relaxed than if you’re grimacing in agony, dreading your next move.
So what do you think? Are these important qualities? What’s missing? What should be replaced?
[Phil Gerbyshak has found his biggest successes in managing a team come when he’s all ACES.]
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POSTED IN: management, self management
5 opinions for Great managers are ACES
David Zinger
Nov 13, 2007 at 5:39 am
Phil,
I think you are playing with a loaded deck and why wouldn’t you stack the odds in your favour to be a manager who accountable, communicative, eager, and happy.
David
Scot Herrick
Nov 13, 2007 at 9:50 pm
And a good manager will insulate their employees from crazy upper management while translating strategy into their every day work lives so that they can see the work they do contributing to the overall business.
Employee Month
Nov 14, 2007 at 9:14 am
…And everyone knows the quickest way to employee of the month is with a smile!
Phil Gerbyshak
Nov 15, 2007 at 9:22 pm
David - as usual, quick to the pun. Thanks for the chuckle.
Scot - insulation. Now that’s something we don’t see enough of.
Employee Month - not sure if you’re being snarky or serious. I’ll take you at face value and say that though smiling alone won’t get you employee of the month, if you’re frowning you give yourself little chance to get anything other than a frown in return.
greatmanagement
Nov 18, 2007 at 5:26 am
Totally agree with the four listed. I would also like to add:
Develops their network (i.e. relationships) inside and outside the company
Keeps plans, goals and priorities clear and focused on what the customer wants
Ruthlessly removes blockages that get in the way of their staff serving customers and focussing on what matters to customers
Andrew