How to Be a Good Manager: Unlocking Your Leadership Potential

"You manage things; you lead people." – Grace Murray Hopper

If you're wondering how to be a good manager who actually inspires a team, you're not alone. Effective managers do more than delegate tasks to their employees. They motivate, inspire, and create a productive work environment where team members feel valued and eager to contribute. 

This article will uncover actionable strategies to elevate your leadership skills. Drawing insights from 'Dare to Lead' and 'Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't,' you'll grasp how to build trust, foster collaboration, and guide your team toward shared success.

And if you want more tips and wisdom on how to become a better manager that match your interests, consider downloading Headway. This app is helpful when you're too busy to dive into an hour-long lecture but want to squeeze maximum learning into small pockets of time throughout your day: 

Quick answer: What makes a good manager?

A good manager balances clear communication, empathy, and decisive action. The best managers focus on empowering team members rather than micromanaging, build trust through emotional intelligence, and create an environment where employees feel psychologically safe. 

They listen actively, make confident decisions, adapt to change, and prioritize their team's well-being alongside business goals. Most importantly, great managers develop people, not just complete projects.

Why strong leadership drives team success

Here's what most people miss: leadership isn't optional for success — it's the foundation.

Many people underestimate the importance of leadership. Strong leadership is beneficial not only to an organization's success but also to employee engagement and retention. First, let's examine some statistics that highlight the crucial role of leadership in a company or organization:

• According to a Gallup study, employees who work under open and accessible leaders show higher workplace engagement. However, 50% of respondents report leaving their jobs due to poor leadership. (Translation: your management style directly determines whether your best talent stays or walks.)

• A study by Apollotechnical shows that 80% of employees say that changing their immediate supervisor affects their stress levels. Think about that — eight out of ten people's daily stress is tied to who manages them.

Before discussing the main leadership qualities, let's explore what the best managers can do. In 'Dare to Lead,' research professor Brené Brown, PhD, discusses why strong leaders are integral to achieving organizational goals:

• Better communication

True leaders encourage open communication throughout the workplace. They emphasize transparency and clarity, which are essential for effective teamwork. When leaders cultivate a safe and inclusive environment, every employee feels empowered to contribute. As a result, team members feel heard and valued, leading to increased job satisfaction, creativity, and collaboration.

📘Want to know how to win the hearts of your subordinates and everyone they talk to? Choose your growth plan on Headway — and turn it into real results.

• Corporate culture

According to 'Leaders Eat Last' by Simon Sinek, leadership directly affects the corporate culture and workplace atmosphere. This environment influences productivity and staff retention. 

• High productivity

Productivity often arises from how well people collaborate and work together as a team, not separately. Influential leaders direct this process, from leveraging project management tools to empowering collaboration between departments.

• Improve efficiency

Effective leaders effectively delegate tasks based on individual talents and strengths. They're also open to introducing new approaches and methods, recognizing that yesterday's solutions won't always solve tomorrow's problems.

• Vision

An effective leader creates a vision and sets clear goals for their employees. This method is crucial for future success, as setting goals serves as a roadmap for processes at all levels.

📘 Save our printable goal-setting worksheet or simply enter your goals directly into the Headway app.

What makes a manager great: Top 10 strong leadership skills

What does it take to be a good manager? Expertise in a particular field isn't enough for a team manager to do their best work. Nowadays, being a true leader means developing soft skills that help a team of people achieve team goals. Let's explore the nature of leadership and the most essential leadership skills.

1. Taking care of the success and well-being of employees

The true price of leadership is the willingness to place the needs of others above your own. Great leaders truly care about those they are privileged to lead and understand that the true cost of the leadership privilege comes at the expense of self-interest.

― Simon Sinek, 'Leaders Eat Last'

Here's the uncomfortable truth: If you're not actively thinking about your team's well-being, you're already failing as a manager.

Google research found that creating a "psychologically safe" environment is fundamental to team effectiveness. When employees feel safe, they're not afraid to take risks, ask questions, or propose new ideas. This isn't just feel-good management theory — it's what separates high-performing teams from mediocre ones.

📘You get only one real chance to turn your team into leaders — make it count.

2. Being a good listener

Being more than just a boss calls for being a good communicator. First, managers must develop genuine listening skills to understand their employees and show empathy. Always remember that information is power, but it only flows when people feel heard.

Active listening and empathy should be a focus. While a poor leader hears, a good leader listens. This distinction makes all the difference. Whether someone comes with a question or a suggestion, effective managers listen attentively and acknowledge initiative.

Daring leaders work to make sure people can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging.

― Brené Brown, 'Dare to Lead'

Want to become a better listener? Start here:

• Learn to listen carefully, paying attention to words and nonverbal cues (gestures, facial expressions, tone).

• Paraphrase what you heard to confirm that you understood everything correctly: "As I understand it, you are saying that…" This way, you and the other person will be sure you are on the same page.

• Receive feedback from your team members. This method will help you understand how your words are perceived and what can be improved.

• Tailor your feedback approach to each person's characteristics. What is an incentive for development for one person may be perceived as criticism by another.

3. Confident decision-making

Don't be impulsive; instead, be decisive. The difference? An impulsive manager reacts emotionally. A decisive one gathers facts, listens to employees' perspectives, and then makes a decision that moves the company forward. Not everyone will agree with every decision, but that's part of leadership.

📘You'll need strength to withstand such blows. Build it up with Headway.

Responsibility is an essential factor in decision-making, which can play an additional role depending on the work style. Thus, in an authoritarian style, the leader bears full responsibility when making decisions alone. A democratic style shares responsibility through team participation. In contrast, a liberal style distributes responsibility for the decision-making across the group, with the leader mainly confirming the decision made by the majority.

4. Empowering employee responsibilities and avoiding micromanaging

It is a leader's job instead to take responsibility for the success of each crew member. The leader's job is to ensure that they are well-trained and feel confident to perform their duties. To give them responsibility and hold them accountable to advance the mission.

― Simon Sinek, 'Leaders Eat Last Deluxe'

Stop hovering. Micromanaging is a management style that involves controlling every step of an employee's work. When this happens, the team or employees cannot make independent decisions. This manager's behavior may signal self-doubt or insufficient management skills — and your team can feel it.

Instead, empower employees by giving them the freedom they desire. Encourage them to experiment with their ideas, take risks, and learn from their mistakes. For instance, offering flexible schedules shows trust in the team's ability to manage their time effectively. When you let go, you'll be surprised by how much your people can achieve.

Listening to each member of your team is essential; take their suggestions and needs into account. When providing feedback, be specific, clear, and development-focused rather than critical to address weaknesses and promote professional growth properly.

5. Being a solution-oriented professional and critical thinker

Choose courage over comfort.

― Brené Brown, 'Dare to Lead'

Questions are often directed to the leader first. Whether it is a conflict, a new idea, or a creative proposal, another quality of a good manager includes the ability to engage in problem-solving and think critically.

It is vital to approach difficult situations analytically and identify potential solutions. Taking action in such circumstances will inspire employees to be more innovative and creative. Remember: your team watches how you handle challenges. Your approach becomes their template.

📘 This is your chance to empower your team by becoming a great role model — grab it now.

6. Strong communication skills

A conscious leader needs to be actively appreciative. We can be tough leaders at times, we can and should be strong, but at the end of the day, human beings respond best to care and appreciation. It's important to remember that in business, everything we accomplish is ultimately done with and through other people. That is what conscious leaders do — we inspire, motivate, develop, and lead others.

– John Mackey, 'Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity Through Business'

All effective managers form the link between the company and its employees. Leaders must formulate their thoughts, effectively convey instructions, and concisely convey all the task details. Unclear communication costs time, money, and trust.

Empathy is a powerful leadership trait because it helps you better understand others' perspectives. That includes resolving conflicts and finding common ground.

Clear and structured communication in both speech and writing is crucial for effective leadership. A great manager carefully chooses their words when speaking to team members, during meetings, or sending emails. Misunderstandings can cause delays and errors, so using appropriate wording and style for different situations is essential.

Effective communication fosters employee engagement in a productive, open environment where everyone can contribute. Employees must feel safe when making suggestions or asking questions, which comes with trust, time, and concrete actions. Leaders need strong self-awareness and an analytical mindset to create such an environment.

I always bring my core values to feedback conversations. I specifically bring courage, which means that I don't choose comfort over being respectful and honest — choosing politeness over respect is not respectful.

― Brené Brown, 'Dare to Lead'

7. Developing emotional intelligence to empower your management style

Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio reminds us, "We are not necessarily thinking machines. We are feeling machines that think."

― Brené Brown, 'Dare to Lead'

Here's what separates good managers from great ones: Emotional intelligence is another key trait of an effective leader. This quality includes empathy for others and understanding and managing your emotions.

📘 Open Headway and dive into dozens of authors who make emotional intelligence practical, clear, and easy to apply.

Self-awareness and self-regulation

A great leader requires self-awareness and a critical approach to their actions and words. It does not mean being overly critical. Rather, recognize that your actions and reactions directly affect the culture and productivity of the team. Your mood on Monday morning sets the tone for everyone's week—whether you realize it or not.

Understanding people's emotions and motivations is the basis for building relationships, fostering cooperation, and resolving conflicts.

Empathy and understanding the emotions of others

A leader must be sensitive and understanding to build and develop relationships. This trait involves active listening, careful analysis, and decisive action. There should be a healthy balance between empathy and maintaining a leadership presence.

When managers show genuine empathy, employees are more likely to stay with the company and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

How can a leader use empathy in their work?

• More often, put yourself in the employee's position and ask, "How would I feel if I were them?"

• Directly ask employees about their concerns and career goals.

• Respond to employees' difficulties and provide help.

📘At the same time, you need to be able to preserve and replenish your own resources. It takes some time, but it's worth it.

8. Adaptability and flexibility

The role of a leader is not to come up with all the great ideas. The role of a leader is to create an environment in which great ideas can happen.

― Simon Sinek, 'Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action'

What distinguishes good leaders from bad ones is their flexible thinking and openness to change. They are fearless when changing something and do not cling to inefficient and old working methods. If there is something that needs improvement, they do so. A true leader must be prepared for unexpected events and situations. Qualities of a successful manager in this regard include:

• Embracing change and uncertainty (even when it's uncomfortable)

• Staying open to new ideas and welcoming regular feedback

• Acting decisively and quickly in stressful situations

• Working well under pressure and inspiring trust in others

• Adjusting strategies and plans to suit changing circumstances

Leaders must be on the front lines of change, so they must have a healthy sense of self-esteem and determination. The question isn't whether change will come — it's whether you'll lead through it or be left behind.

📘Choose the right direction with Headway.

9. Being a good mentor

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.

― Simon Sinek, 'Leaders Eat Last'

The best managers use problems as learning opportunities, freely share insights, and actively seek their team members' perspectives on problems. As a result, the team learns and grows. A leader provides constructive feedback and listens to employees. It is not just direct reports on good work, but describing what made someone's performance successful.

Additionally, leaders create opportunities for professional development and learning. Regular one-on-one meetings and follow-up conversations inspire others to work harder and reach their potential. 

📘When you invest in someone's growth, they invest in your team's success — it's that simple. But first, invest in yourself with Headway.

10. Sticking to your priorities and mastering time management

If you have more than three priorities, you have no priorities.

― Brené Brown, 'Dare to Lead'

Be honest: How many "urgent" emails did you answer today that weren't actually urgent?

When it comes to priorities and time management, it's crucial to remember to stick to your priorities. Most managers can easily list countless distractions that pop up during the workday. As a manager, you can't eliminate all interruptions, but you can manage them more effectively.

Set clear boundaries for yourself and your team. For example, you could check your email only twice daily and handle all urgent emails immediately instead of "tagging" and leaving them for later. Another idea is to schedule a "no interruptions" period in your calendar. This method can do wonders for your productivity if you dedicate it to focused work.

Smart time management isn't about working longer hours — it's about protecting the work that truly matters from the noise that doesn't.

📘It's also about personal boundaries. Learn to identify and set your own boundaries with Headway.

What modern leaders must master

The modern workplace requires managers who can adapt to change, nurture their teams, communicate effectively, and foster employee development to achieve business goals. Line managers often need additional management training in leadership and people management skills.

In today's dynamic and often changing business environment, managers and leaders constantly face challenges that test their leadership qualities and strategic insight. Staying one step ahead requires developing flexibility, forecasting capabilities, and practical time management skills. Modern leaders must be adaptable. It is not an easy task, but the ability to quickly develop new strategies, products, or services and identify growth opportunities helps maintain resilience during difficult times.

"Innovation is not born from the dream, innovation is born from the struggle." ― Simon Sinek, 'Start with Why'

The performance management process consists of several key stages, each of which plays a vital role in ensuring team success:

1. Goal setting: Start by defining specific, measurable, achievable, and relevant (SMART) goals with clear timelines for each employee. Vague goals lead to vague results — be specific.

2. Development planning: Help employees develop plans to improve their professional skills and competencies through activities such as training and coaching. This shows you're invested in their future, not just their output.

3. Regular monitoring: Keep track of task performance to identify and address problems on time and take necessary measures to solve them. This includes regular check-in meetings with employees to discuss their progress. Consistency matters more than intensity.

4. Performance reviews: Provide constructive feedback with recommendations for further improvement. Make performance reviews about growth, not just evaluation.

With the rise of remote work, effective communication has become essential. Leaders must find new ways to engage team members who might feel isolated and disconnected in work environments. The physical distance makes an emotional connection even more critical.

Whether you're a new manager or an experienced one, incorporate learning into your daily routine to grow your leadership skills and stay on top. This approach may involve reading management literature, participating in webinars, or enrolling in online courses.

📘Stay curious and continually seek out learning opportunities with Headway.

Take care of yourself and get resources

Returning from work feeling inspired, safe, fulfilled, and grateful is a natural human right to which we are all entitled and not a modern luxury that only a few lucky ones are able to find. ― Simon Sinek, 'Leaders Eat Last'

You can't pour from an empty cup. Overworking can harm your well-being and personal life. If you spend most of your time working, you risk burnout and decreased productivity. That's why it's crucial to maintain a work-life balance. Remember that you are the source of motivation, optimism, ideas, and inspiration for your employees. When you burn out, your entire team feels it.

Do activities to care for yourself, like getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, spending more time outdoors, and exercising regularly. It's crucial to find a balance between work and personal life. If you ever feel overwhelmed or on the verge of burnout, consider taking a vacation — ideally without your laptop. This can significantly help you avoid burnout.

The following rules can help you stay energized at work:

• Taking regular short (5-10 minutes) breaks every few hours to get away from your computer or workplace.

• Performing breathing exercises or meditation daily to calm the mind and reduce stress.

• Doing a sport you enjoy for at least 30 minutes daily to maintain a healthy body.

Your team needs you at your best. That means taking care of yourself isn't selfish — it's strategic.

Master leadership skills that transform teams with Headway

Now you understand clearly what separates effective managers from struggling ones. But here's the reality: knowing what to do and actually doing it consistently are two different things.

This is where Headway becomes your leadership advantage. If you want to grow as a successful manager, motivate the people on your team, and continuously sharpen your management skills, Headway gives you the tools to make it happen — without adding hours to your already packed schedule.

Headway is a convenient app for getting ideas from the best self-help literature in a way that fits your life. For example, you can listen to or read the summary of 'Dare to Lead' by Brené Brown, PhD, in 15 minutes, and you'll get nine key ideas that you can apply right away without waiting to read the entire 300-page book.

The app adapts to your learning style by offering options to listen, read, or save key insights from summaries, helping you maximize your learning efficiency. That means you can learn a great deal on various topics in minimal time each day — even during your commute, lunch break, or before bed. The application personalizes book selections based on your interests and career development goals, ensuring every minute you invest delivers real value.

Download Headway today and transform scattered reading time into consistent leadership growth. Your team deserves a manager who keeps getting better.