Employees’ happiness at their jobs at least in part depends on their relationship with their manager. Good managers can be motivating and keep employees engaged.
There are many characteristics that can define a good manager. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce shares the following five traits employees value highly.
- Extraversion. Studies published by the National Library of Medicine and Frontiers in Psychology show higher extraversion was significantly correlated with increased job satisfaction among employees. These people typically are outgoing, sociable, energetic and enthusiastic.
- Communication skills. Clear communication is key for managers. If employees are not informed, they may not know what is expected of them, leading to poor performance and frustrated teams. It also is important to actively listen to employees so they feel comfortable approaching managers with any concerns.
- Emotional intelligence. This is the “ability to understand, use and manage your emotions positively to relieve stress and communicate.” Managers with high emotional intelligence can handle conflict and morale issues in ways that benefit everyone.
- Accountability. To solve problems, you must be able to acknowledge there is an issue. Employees view accountable managers as trustworthy and fair, communicating clear expectations for their team members.
- Honesty. When there is honest, authentic communication, employees believe they are partners in their company’s success. It is important for leaders to empower managers to share news from high-level meetings. Even if employees do not completely agree with decisions, transparency can help them align with the company’s mission and values.
