And now… something for the boss

At PA Life we’re devoted to bringing you the very latest news, tips, advice and recommendations on a whole smorgasbord of topics that we hope are of interest to you in your professional lives.

Since our most popular stories seem to be those that provide suggestions on how to engender a better working relationship with your manager, we thought we’d ensure you get even more brownie points by bringing you a selection of news items of interest to your executive. In this edition, we take a look at the top traits that all great managers should possess.

Each inspirational leader has their own way of motivating teams and getting them to perform to the best of their ability, but there are some qualities that are shared by the very best bosses.

First off is awareness: good leaders understand that management and the workforce are different entities and so conduct themselves in a way that separates them from the crowd – not to prove they’re superior, but to allow them to be objective about what’s going on within the company.

Being able to make tough decisions is the hallmark of the true leader. Good bosses know that having to make difficult choices will not always result in them being popular, but they don’t flinch when the going gets rough. They also know when they need to consult others as part of their decision-making process and when it’s best to go it alone.

The ability to empathise with staff is a key characteristic of top managers, who will be able to guide their team through problems and on to finding solutions, without resorting to blaming individual employees.

Being accountable for their actions is another principal trait common to good bosses; when things go well, they praise employees’ efforts and when the chips are down they’re resourceful and will make every effort to find ways to get the business back on track.

Confidence can be contagious – that’s why all good leaders need to have this quality. Staff feel drawn to them and know they’ll provide sound advice. If they’re challenged on their ideas by senior management they don’t back down without a fight, as they know their opinions are the result of careful research. Equally, if a flaw in their strategic thinking is revealed, they’re not too proud to admit their mistake and put it right.

Read the full story at tinyurl.com/ot9t8yo