Because I've been on the search for the best fit for me - I've spent a lot of time working for a lot of different managers. I've seen the best, the worst, and the apathetic. I've been a manager as well. And I like to think I'm a pretty good one. In order to become better, I try to take the pieces of each boss that I love and embody them - and to take the pieces I hate, and never be them.
So what makes a good manager?
A Can Do Attitude
I've got a rule. I'll never ask my staff to do anything I haven't done or been willing to do myself. A boss should be willing to put in the work. I don't respect a superior who's not willing to roll up their sleeves and get the job done.
Reasonable
I need a supervisor to be reasonable. From standards and expectations to the hours I keep, I need you to be realistic. There is a difference between high standards and pushing too much. There is a highly defined line between working hard and working too much.
Aware
A boss should be aware of what's going on within the team at all times. Too many supervisors are quick to notice the mistakes and don't celebrate the successes or even have a clue what's going on within their team. It shouldn't be a surprise to you when you have a bunch of staff quit. It shouldn't b few and far between that you're thankful for the work your team does.
Accountable
The boss should hold more responsibility and accountability than anyone. If your team is consistently making mistakes, it's on you to find out why and how to fix it. At the end of the day, the results are on you. Additionally, if you're the boss and yet you don't put in the work, hold yourself to different standards for vacation/sick/hours - you're not respectable. You're in charge but you're not above the rules.
Teamwork
I have a client who constantly corrects me when I say work for you. He insists on saying work with. And he's my favorite client. He values me as a human being above all else and understands what being a team stands for. He knows that the successes and failures are part of the team's effort. He's willing to put in the time to make us successful and he's not afraid to push us harder. He doesn't make it a me vs you situation because if I lose, he loses.
There are of course, a lot of other qualities that make a manager great, but to me, these are the basics. Finding a good boss is hard. Being a boss is hard. Making an effort to be a good one and work for a good one is critical. We spend so freaking much time working, find somewhere and someone you enjoy working for and with.