If you want to be a strong leader and manger, look no further than Google. Employing some of the best and brightest people in the world, Google has extensively researched their leadership and management strategy and discovered 8 qualities of their own great leaders-managers. According to Laszlo Bock, Google’s Senior Vice-President for People Operations (Human Resources), teams working under the best managers perform better, are happier and stay longer with the company. If you want to become an efficient and inspiring leader-manager, check out Google’s great leader’s qualities and why they are important to your business.
Be a good coach: Have regular coaching conversations around development of your employees. According to recent research, the single most important managerial skill that separates highly effective managers from average ones is Listening to employees is key to effective coaching, as well as asking questions, focusing on positively moving forward and building accountability with employees.
Empower your team and don’t micromanage: If you micromanage your employees, you will never empower your team. When micromanaging a leader is drilling employees to become more dependent on them, as they will feel that they will need to ask permission for every tiny detail. Good leaders prevent employees from being excessively reliant on their bosses by allowing them to make their own decisions and the freedom to do tasks in their own way; cultivating a staff that feels empowered and self-guided.
Express interest in your team members’ success and well-being: Practicing empathy and listening skills will show employees that you are interested in their success and well-being, both in and out of the workplace. Have real conversations and get to know your employees and their story, everyone has one.
Be productive and results oriented: Ask: how can I achieve this? What do I have to do now to get there? How does getting the result feel? By asking yourself these questions as a leader you will constantly be moving forward. Plus, your team will respect you by seeing your productivity.
Be a good communicator and listen to your team: As many know, listening is a vital leadership skill and I have found that the best leaders are really the best listeners.
Help your employees with career development: Most employees don’t want to be doing the exact job they are doing now forever. Focusing on career progression and development within the organization will empower employees to stay at your company and not go looking for career advancement elsewhere. Remember, it is kudos to you and your skills as a manager when one of your team is promoted.
Have a clear vision and strategy for the team: A strong vision for a business can create energy and the drive needed to push teams and organizations forward. A strong and effectively communicated vision will be infectious, stimulating, and attractive to others. It will motivate employees to achieve business goals and aspirations. People rally around leaders with a compelling vision and a clear sense of purpose.
Have key technical skills so you can help your team: This is obviously a very important characteristic of strong leadership in a technical company such as Google, but can be applied to any industry. Having a strong background in sales, accounting, marketing, or real estate - whatever field you managing - will enable you to help your employees succeed.
For aspiring, new and experienced managers these qualities do not require a change in personality but rather is a matter of behavioral changes, which can be accomplished by regular and deliberate practice. Most importantly, as a manager the most important things you can do for your employees is to make sure you have time for your employees and to be consistent.