I’ll go first:
doesn’t treat his employees differently according to personal bias.
Wants his employees to become better and to earn more money.
Respects his employees’ needs for solitude (yes, I’m an introvert and want to disconnect during my pause) and knows what boundaries are.
Doesn’t leave you in the lurch. One of the reason why I quit my last job is that my manager, who loved to claim we’re a team would always go to smoke with his friends, while I’d be taking care of business, something he never acknowledge. His pauses lasted always more than 30 minutes and I was supposed to always work more than him. Nope.
Is not a drama queen and has a life outside of the workplace.
Doesn’t try manipulating me each time I call in sick.
Am I asking for much?
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Can be blunt when something’s not right…
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…but has your back when you need something to be successful
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Knows how to delegate and track progress with context not just some KPI that looks good.
Servant Leader.
Has worked and understands the roles she is supervising.
I virtually have to manage my manager. On the plus side, I can get away with a lot. On the minus side, I have to manage my manager and get paid less.
Resigns immediately. No gods no masters
An umbrella for unreasonable demands from higher up. Good at office politics cause I aint. Presents problems that need solving, without enforcing a particular solution.
The umbrella is such an underrated skill. My manager is the best buffer between me and the C-suite, and I appreciate it immensely. She doesn’t involve me in any of the company’s internal political crap unless it directly impacts me. She filters out all the bullshit and protects me from our bosses getting in the way of the work.
Some of her other excellent managerial qualities: she doesn’t cold call me (we’re remote), she doesn’t schedule unnecessary meetings, she has zero contact after COB, and she trusts me to get my shit done during the day, on my own, with absolutely no micro-managing. Some weeks I don’t need to interact with her at all, even though she’s a fun person I never mind chatting with. She’s the best manager.
It all boils down to mutual respect. Respect leads to trust, trust leads to teamwork and a healthy work environment.
Realizes they have a bullshit job and has a copy of David Graeber’s book on their desk.
Doesn’t think that he/she is the boss, but much more the secretary of people doing the actual work.
He/she is reasonable to provide the people doing the actual work to provide them with the environment and resources they needDoesn’t micro-manage.
No pulse
No breath
Vacant, glassy eyes
If he can’t manage his own time. He can’t manage shit
Being smart about communication. One of the biggest failings I have had with so many managers is the lack of communication. Assistants saying one thing, main manager says another, turns out the two barely spoke about the thing. Changes to the standard not being communicated properly, mistakes getting by until it’s a major issue.
