1. Good managers have mentorship skills
2. Good managers are collaborative
3. Good managers have vision
4. Good managers are adaptable
5. Good managers have empathy

A good manager should be more than just a boss – they should be a mentor who is willing to invest in your development and provide guidance and support as you progress in your career. A bad manager will focus on their own growth and make selfish decisions in order to get the best for him/herself, while a good manager takes pride and benefits by developing you.

During an interview, you need to ask questions about their mentorship style in order to assess if the person in front of you is a good fit. Remember that interviews are a two-way ‘assessment’, it’s your opportunity to assess the company and its people and your willingness to work for them.

Ask questions about how many people got promoted directly under her/his management and how they have helped team members grow in the past.

This will give you an idea of their commitment to your professional development.

A great manager will be there to help you navigate the ups and downs of your career, and will be a valuable resource as you work towards your own career goals.

A manager who values teamwork and collaboration can be a game changer in your career. When everyone works together, it creates a positive, supportive environment that can help you build relationships and gain exposure to new opportunities. You want to find a manager that is authentic and gives credits where credit is due.

During an interview, pay attention to how the manager speaks about their team and the importance of collaboration. You want to look for a manager who encourages open communication and encourages their team to work together. This kind of manager will help you build a strong network and open up doors for your career.

Ask about specific examples of how they have fostered teamwork and brought out the best in their team members.

You will notice based on the excitement level if the person takes pride in the results of individuals of the team or only focuses on themselves.

For me personally, a good manager is someone who helps their team, develops (in terms of personal growth) their team members and has a clear vision and strategy – someone who is able to take a step back from execution and focuses on the bigger picture.

A manager with a clear vision and goals for the team can help you understand how your work fit s into that bigger picture, and give you direction for your career. Someone who understands where the business is moving will be able to direct your work to contribute to this strategy – which will make you stand out internally.

It also helps you to focus on your own goals and provides clarity about how you can contribute to the team’s success. When your manager knows what they are working towards, it’s easier for yourself to identify how to do relevant and rewarding work. They will inspire you to aim high and challenge yourself.

Ask during your interview about the vision of your manager:

• Where do they see the team in one, three and five years from now?

This will give you an idea of their leadership style and whether they have a plan in place to drive the team forward.

You have different needs when you join a company compared to when you are there for more than a year. As you progress in your career, you’ll likely encounter different challenges and new opportunities. What might seem hard in the beginning, will most likely become ‘trivial’ after a couple of weeks.

A good manager should be able to adapt and pivot as needed, and help you do the same. This means being able to think on their feet and come up with creative solutions to problems. An adaptable manager will help you stay accountable, flexible and open to new ideas – which is essential for your career growth.

During an interview, you can test the adaptability of your (potential) manager by asking about times when the manager had to adapt to changing circumstances and how they handled it.

Ask their 30-60-90 day plan for new joiners and where they see you in one year from now. This will give you an idea of their ability to adapt to your needs over time.

The last trait to look for is empathy. You want a manager who is able to understand and relate to your experiences and emotions. It’s necessary for them to understand you in order to provide you with support and what you need to succeed. They should be able to sense when something is going on in either your professional or personal life and take it into account.

When you have a manager who is empathetic, you’ll feel more comfortable bringing your concerns and ideas to the table. This kind of manager will create a positive, inclusive culture that will help you thrive in your career.  

During an interview, you should pay attention to how the manager speaks about their team and whether they show empathy towards their team members.

You can also ask about how they handle conflicts and difficult situations to get a sense of their emotional intelligence.

Over the course of my career so far, I had my fair share of good and bad managers. And don’t get me wrong: no one is perfect and when I say ‘bad manager’ it’s often very personal – not everyone can be a good fit for everyone. Sometimes it just doesn’t click and it’s time to move on.

Keep in mind, no one is perfect, but these traits can help you identify potential managers who will support your career growth. Every team is different, so it’s important to consider what traits are most important to you and the goals you hope to achieve in your career.

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