8 Characteristics of Decent Managers

Becoming a decent manager isn’t the most obvious path. You can reach the top of the management hierarchy, but if you haven’t learned the foundations of treating yourself and people around you, you will end up being under the constant pressure. The source of this pressure often lies in underlying conflicts. We can adapt to it, but it doesn’t lead to a healthy and happy life for anyone involved. The good news is that you can choose differently.

The following list is the result of my observation and practice. I tried to describe how a decent manager would feel, think, and act. And I keep using it to remind myself of where I’m going.

As a decent manager, you would:

1. Practice self-observation and honesty. This is where it all begins. If you can’t see yourself clearly, there’s nothing that would work. Your judgement will always be clouded.
2. Know what your values are. Even if you don’t know them, you still project your values through your work. However, it’s much better when you’re aware of them. Ultimately, the way you treat people on a daily basis is what they perceive as your company’s values.
3. Treat yourself and the people around you with respect. Instead of saying, “You failed,” say, “I would handle this situation like this, but I could be wrong, and I’d like to discuss it with you.”
4. Work with facts, not with interpretations. Always seek the source of truth first and then make decisions. If you struggle with managing emotions, learn to pause before reacting.
5. Set boundaries. When conversations become personal, you can say, “We can discuss matters that affect your growth and performance, but for issues related to your spouse, children, parents, or friends, there are more appropriate people to talk to.”
6. Seek to work with excellent professionals, even when you’re scary that they would do a better work than you. Unless it’s an intentional mentoring situation, be more concerned about wasting time and going in the wrong direction.
7. Know the exact value of your time, and when in doubt, remind yourself of it. This doesn’t mean you can’t have fun; it means you need to stay clear-headed and make informed decisions, starting with yourself.
8. Take care of your soul, mind, and body, and work on aligning them in harmony. This is an ongoing process with no final destination, and that’s the beauty of it.

Above all, this list is about becoming a decent human being, of course. I believe this is the most important work we all have to do. Everything else will fall into place