With more and more companies embarking on a profiling process, before promoting or recruiting internal employees and external candidates to management, it is important to cultivate the qualities that a good leader possesses. Only by nurturing the characteristics that make a manager, can you reasonably expect to oversee a team with successful results.
"The art of management is not something that is easily mastered, as it goes beyond the realm of physical ability and requires a certain degree of emotional intelligence. By way of example, a successful leader is paradoxically also a team player. This is a quality that is defined by the ability to communicate and interact with others effectively, as well as the willingness to take responsibility where appropriate at all times. Only by constantly refining this soft skill can you ever be really good at it," advises Kim Meszaros, marketing executive at Kelly, a leading workforce management and productivity solutions company.
Meszaros also points out that the successful manager is able to read people and more importantly, their employees, in order to guide them to be most productive. "Only by earning your stripes out in the field and gaining invaluable work experience while getting to know your employees, can you enhance this ability," says Meszaros. Trustworthiness, integrity and a willingness to take a stand are also qualities cited by Meszaros that define a manager, and she adds that these are characteristics that can be developed and honed no matter what your current position is within your company.
The true manager also displays the following important traits in their efforts to lead a successful team:
Walk the talk and start the journey of continuously nurturing the qualities that will define you as a leader and the manager you wish to be. This in turn will set you in good stead when the next managerial opportunity becomes available within your organisation.
