What Makes a Good Manager? Essay Example
What Makes a Good Manager? Essay Example

What Makes a Good Manager? Essay Example

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  • Pages: 6 (1566 words)
  • Published: October 4, 2021
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In this research study, I conducted an interview with an employee who has a longstanding working relationship with a manager. The reason for choosing this individual was their firsthand experience of being managed, which provides valuable insights for the paper. Their experience enables them to accurately evaluate the qualities of competent and inadequate managers. Based on the information shared by the interviewee, it can be deduced that honesty is a vital characteristic of an efficient leader.

The manager-employee relationship depends on honesty, encompassing qualities such as sincerity, integrity, directness, practicality, and transparency. Managers must not only be honest but also create a positive impression. Albert Einstein once stated that if someone is untrustworthy in small matters, they cannot be relied upon for important matters. Trust is crucial for others to follow your guidance i

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n any situation – whether it's in combat or the corporate world, on the front lines or in the executive suite (Bethel, 2012).

Regardless of the circumstances, managers need to be perceived as honest, moral, and principled individuals. It is essential for all to fully trust their managers in order to establish this trust. To achieve this, managers should exhibit strong character and integrity. We all value transparency and honesty; we do not wish to be deceived or manipulated. Rather, we prefer being informed truthfully.

We are seeking a manager who understands ethical principles. We want our team to succeed, but we don't want someone who uses dishonest methods to achieve success. The integrity of our managers is important because it reflects on our own honesty (R?ducan ; R?ducan, 2014). Good leaders understand the corporate culture within the organization and how it affects all employees.

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Strong leadership helps foster this culture naturally instead of imposing it.

Continuous and ongoing communication within the organization is crucial for ensuring that all employees understand the objectives and goals. It also helps in making every employee feel valued and essential to the organization's success. Honesty in recruiting employees, taking into account their experience and abilities, is vital for the advancement of the organization. Additionally, competence in performing assigned tasks is important, and employees should provide support to each other for excelling (Bethel, 2012).

The outcomes of efficient management include a well-preserved workforce, heightened confidence, and lasting accomplishments. Conversely, employees within the organization also experience the negative effects of ineffective leadership. The concept of corporate culture becomes insignificant as managers assert its existence while employees express dissatisfaction. There is a noticeable absence of clear and dependable communication between the top administration and the employees.

Gamesmanship, politics, and gossiping have significant influence in the workplace, leading employees to be skeptical of the organization's performance objectives and targets. They lack understanding of how they can contribute to improving organizational performance. Decisions for advancement are no longer based on skill or integrity but rather on the opinions of those perceived as influential.

The text highlights the importance of teaching workers to behave poorly towards their colleagues for the purpose of performing better. This type of behavior has negative consequences, including decreased confidence, higher employee turnover, and reduced support for achieving success (Bennis & Bennis, 2010). Additionally, fairness is emphasized as a crucial quality for managers. It is essential for individuals to perceive you as an administrator who treats everyone fairly, leaving no room for ambiguity in their evaluation.

Approaching individuals with respect and

managing everybody in an open and fair manner are essential for success as a manager. Working under a leader who plays favorites or treats people differently in terms of responsibility and performance can damage confidence. There are instances where a leader clearly favors a particular employee, giving them high ratings and ensuring their involvement in important and visible tasks. This preferential treatment creates animosity among colleagues and is often brought up when discussing what it's like to work for that leader. This approach aims to retain a specific employee in the group without considering their talent.

In certain instances, the leader expressed a commitment to ensuring accountability and holding workers responsible for their actions. However, there were occasions when this leader made excuses and extended project deadlines for a particular employee who seemed to have captured their attention. Consequently, there was a lack of a sense of responsibility towards the team. When you treat your employees fairly, they become focused on addressing the obstacles they face. They feel valued, cared for, and they develop trust in you as their leader. Instead of engaging in rivalry or manipulative tactics, employees concentrate on working towards achieving both individual and team objectives.

When you treat others in a fair way, two things happen. Your workers notice and regard you for it. Manager's reputation for showing fair play fortifies the faith employees have in the leader. Second, the general population who you treat genuinely will react in a kind way. Since a leader is a role model to his/her employees, he is supposed to show acts of fairness (Bennis & Bennis, 2010). For a leader to be described as being good,

he/she has to be accountable.

Currently, many individuals avoid taking responsibility. When the outcomes are not as expected, these leaders will find someone or something else to blame. Take a look around you... I'm sure you'll find examples. Leaders of companies often take credit for success but distance themselves from failures. However, this behavior is not effective in the long run; it is essential for leaders to be accountable. They need to take responsibility for every decision, regardless of the results (Bennis & Bennis, 2010).

A good manager must have an understanding and knowledge of how to achieve results. In the grand scheme, a leader is responsible for delivering outcomes. Effective managers prioritize and concentrate their efforts on the most valuable activities to ensure optimal results. It is important to acknowledge that organizing activities is beneficial as it enables the execution of advantageous tasks first.

Instead of being busy, strive to be a proactive leader with the objective of attaining desired outcomes. To be an efficient manager, it is vital to adopt a customer-centric approach and understand your clients. This understanding is crucial for achieving optimal results, whether they are internal or external to your organization.

If a manager is unaware of their clients, they must promptly find a solution. Everything you do should align with what clients currently or will eventually require. Look beyond your own perspective. Ultimately, a strong leader must actively solicit feedback from customers in order to understand their needs and be attentive to customer demands.

Every organization experiences changes as it grows. Based on the interview, it was discovered that most employees tend to resist change within an organization. The interviewee elaborated on the different

tasks a manager must perform to effectively address employees' resistance to change. To successfully implement change, a manager must initially comprehend the emotions of her subordinates regarding the transition.

This text emphasizes the importance of communication and understanding between a manager and their employees. It highlights how collecting information from employees can help a manager identify areas that require attention and determine the best approach to implement change. It also suggests that employees should actively involve themselves in the change process to effectively cope with it. Additionally, maintaining a positive attitude towards changes in the organization is crucial for employees to adapt successfully.

By understanding that the changes made are beneficial to the organization, employees can become advocates for change rather than resist it (Bethel, 2012). The interviewee had experience with internships and volunteering, which greatly contribute to career growth.

Internships offer individuals the opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge for future careers, while also providing a glimpse into the actual field. Through internships, individuals can become familiar with workplace challenges and learn how to effectively overcome them once employed. Additionally, engaging in activities such as volunteering allows employees to gain more experience and enhance their proficiency in handling professional tasks.

According to the interviewee, individuals should observe the mentioned leadership qualities as they are valuable for beginning a management career. Aspiring managers should seek guidance from successful managers. One principle of leadership shared by the interviewee is that a successful leader must have a vision and be dedicated to achieving outcomes. These qualities can be acquired through training or by observing accomplished leaders, aligning with contemporary behavioral theories of leadership.

According to the theory, leaders are created through

training and teachings, not born. However, some traits such as honesty align with contemporary leadership theories known as "great man" theories. It is believed that many leaders are naturally endowed with these traits from a young age.

According to the interview, the workplace experience and performance are greatly influenced by the personalities of managers, subordinates, workers, and colleagues. For instance, if a manager is fair, it will inspire all employees to effectively complete their tasks; conversely, the opposite holds true as well. This principle can be applied to other characteristics as well.

When it comes to employees, qualities like hardworking and obedience are essential for an organization's success. After the interview and taking this course, I have concluded that effective leaders demonstrate traits such as honesty, respect for corporate culture, fairness, accountability, customer focus, strategic thinking, and having a vision. Conversely, good employees exhibit strong communication skills, self-motivation, a diligent work ethic, a team player mindset, willingness to assist others, eagerness to learn, and honesty among other attributes.

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