INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS ACCOUNTANTS

Succeeding as a manager is a function of: attributes, traits, and characteristics of managers. This can mathematically be represented thus (A x T x C = SM). You can call it successful management equation if you wish to. The debate as to whether managers are born or made has been settled long ago. Yet, one thing still standout clear; there are some attribute that distinguishes good managers from bad managers. Being a manager by your colleagues does not necessarily make you a manager. In fact, many people that are called managers are in actual sense not managers.

If you happen to find yourself in a company where you are called a manager, take some time to read this article then ask yourself if you measure up to the standard of a manager. If you however fall short in any of the attributes of a manager discussed in this article, do not lose hope as you can virtually learn and develop your managerial skills.

20 ATTRIBUTES OR CHARACTERISTICS OF A MANAGER

All successful managers that I have ever come across have similar traits in common. This section is devoted to discussing those hard features that distinguish successful managers from those that failed.

Before I go on, I would like to give the benefit of doubt by reminding you of whom a manager is. In its simplest form, a manager is someone who manipulates resources with the sole aim of enhancing the value of those resources. Read up my previous article with the title; who is a manager for more.

I am pretty sure that you got to this page because you are looking for a manager for your business. Hence, below are the traits to look out for before hiring a manager for your business.

1. Full of motivation and confidence
2. Excellent communication skills and persuasive attitude
3. Honesty, integrity and trustworthiness
4. Excellent team playing spirit
5. Ability to resolve conflicts
6. Always calm
7. Possession of positive attitude
8. Over flowing with passion
9. A good human capital developer
10. A good negotiator
11. A good strategist and analytical thinker
12. Possession of good sense of humour
13. Ability to be consistent and focussed
14. Willingness to consult others
15. They are flexible
16. Ability to listen well
17. Willingness to delay gratification
18. Ability to acknowledge mistake
19. Possession of thick skin
20. Ability to manage inter personal relationship

As always, it is almost impossible to find a perfect individual that meets all our requirements. So before you go out looking for someone with all the above listed attributes, take some time to pick out characteristics of a manager that your business can do without. Once this is done, go ahead to employ anyone with over 70% of those traits that you have identified to be critical to the success of your business. In order for managers to successfully perform the key functions of management, they need to posses reasonable number of the characteristics of good managers, not necessarily all of them. I am sure this last paragraph must have given you some relief.