COMMUNICATION
Posted by: Bernie
10/04/11 at 10:49 AM

Multi-tasking or what i like to call "switching hats" I often go from being Assistant Manager to reception to kennels to tech all in an hour. I definitely feel the pull at times. Being a manager means you have to always be "on call" to be whatever is needed at the time & be efficient at it as well. At the end of the day it's all worth it, I love the constant flow & my job is never boring...
Posted by: Michelle
10/01/11 at 06:43 PM

being fair and consistent
Posted by: stephanie
09/20/11 at 09:07 AM

The ablilty to listen.
Posted by: Jeanine
09/13/11 at 04:58 PM

as a manager you have to be flexible!!! what I mean by this is that a manager is not only managing a business or money but people!!! that employee comes with a lot of bagage and every employee is different. Although you are suppose to leave that bagage at home, it will crossover into the work enironment and effect the employee. Now if the manager is not flexible, or willing to put time or effort into that employee, that employee will suffer and so will the business. Managing people I totally believe is harder than managing a business.
Posted by: Linda
09/13/11 at 02:36 PM

Clear concise communicator that can articulate expectations, goals and provide direction on how to achieve those expectations and goals.
Posted by:
09/12/11 at 02:10 PM

The most important trait for a manager is leadership. Leaders should be strong, approachable, communicative, fair, and honest. If you have a manager that is a good leader, you've got a gem.
Posted by:
09/12/11 at 11:14 AM

Being able to listen and HEAR what you people are saying. New Ideas should always be welcome, and because the group in the trenches has the first hint that some thing is not going as planned. If you listen you get an early heads up.
Posted by: jean maness
09/12/11 at 07:42 AM

I believe its communication and CLEAR communication of the associates role and responsibities.
Posted by:
09/09/11 at 10:40 AM

Integrity. If a manager has integrity, everything else just falls into place as it should.
Posted by: Carol Payne
09/08/11 at 03:56 PM

Recognizing and Maximizing the strengths of employees.
Posted by: Val
09/08/11 at 09:43 AM

Emotional intelligence: it provides them with the ability to connect with people at every level and manage conflict effectively. When you have that maturity, you want to learn, teach, and coach; you become efficient and practical while being humble and sincere
Posted by: Lisbeth
09/08/11 at 09:33 AM

People Reading Skills To apply the appropriate prescription to each employee and customer, one has to know who and what they are dealing with. "Reading" people is a talent and a skill - some lessons come with a hard learning curve
Posted by: Monika Decker
09/08/11 at 09:27 AM

Listening skills and compassion
Posted by: Cgonzalez
09/08/11 at 08:25 AM

THE ABILITY TO "REMEMBER" WHAT IS WAS LIKE TO BE IN THE TRENCHES!SHOW RESPECT TO EVERYONE AND IT WILL BE RETURNED. NEVER ASK A STAFF MEMBER TO DO ANY TASK THAT YOU YOURSELF WOULD NOT DO. BE OPEN TO NEW IDEAS AND GIVE PRAISE AND CREDIT FOR THEIR EFFORT.MY TEAM KNOWS THAT THEY CAN COME TO ME WITH ANY PROBLEM AND WE WILL FIND A SOLUTION TOGETHER.
Posted by: Debi Nicholson
09/08/11 at 06:47 AM

Ethical behavior. Once your reports loose respect for you, it's time to clock out and find a new job or career.
Posted by: Scott M.
09/08/11 at 04:03 AM

If you are a manager and manage people, one of the most important skills is building and maintaining an effective cohesive team. If you have that you have respect and people who work for you to achieve common goals.
Posted by: Andrea Ziegler
09/07/11 at 04:19 PM

Adaptablity! In todays business environment, things can change quickly. There may be mergers, dowsizing, shared resources, etc. Doing more with less and/or taking on added responsibilities and/or wearing multiple hats is now the norm. The manager who can adapt, accept change and excel in whatever new environment which is presented, will prove to be a leader who can be depended on in the roughest of waters.
Posted by: Mike H
09/07/11 at 02:58 PM

For all people in leadership roles, the most important trait will be to get to know his/her employees. In getting to know the them and developing a relationship with each one it would be easy for them in turn to speak with you if they have an issue. If you work with them, they will work with you. And a great man onces said to be a leader you must first be a servant.
Posted by: Patricia
09/07/11 at 02:46 PM

honesty
Posted by: smudge
09/07/11 at 02:32 PM

Be supportive and geniunely care about your employees in every aspect. Employees should be able to come to their boss with any problem they are facing, whether work related or personal, with the confidence in knowing that they will be heard, understood, and supported by their boss.
Posted by: Lisa
09/07/11 at 02:14 PM

A great manager not only has an optimistic and positive attitude, but strives to maintain the same for her staff.
Posted by: Martt
09/07/11 at 01:57 PM

Great managers are fair, impartial, flexible and must be able to hold a confidence.
Posted by: Katie Kate
09/07/11 at 01:50 PM

Be a good listener!!
Posted by: Rita
09/07/11 at 01:46 PM

Versatility- I believe that it is important that managers be able to work with individuals who may possess wide ranges of abilities regarding their level of expertise and talent in order to gain the most benefit from their employees as well as provide room for potential growth.
Posted by: Bridgett D.
09/07/11 at 01:31 PM

Empathy. Your staff will respond to you much more positively if they believe that you understand what they are dealing with.
Posted by: Hailey
09/07/11 at 01:23 PM

To know where, how, when of getting to the goal their team is assigned and to not make it a secret.
Posted by: M. Aiken
09/07/11 at 01:00 PM

As with any realtionship, Communication is the key. Not only the ability to speak clearly and effectively with knowledge of their topic to support their words, but to also listen to the responses and feedback, both verbal an non-verbal, to what they are saying, and the flexiblity to adapt their language in order to make their communication more effective for their audience.
Posted by: Katana
09/07/11 at 12:49 PM

Competency!!! Be able to jump into any job that employees you supervise do regularly. Be able to live up to your job description. If you are seen as incompetent, you lose your employees' trust. You are supposed to be the leader and the staff is covering you. Then there is open disention in the ranks. You are no longer effective in your position.
Posted by: Tami W
09/07/11 at 12:18 PM

Understanding the job and how to manage the people who perform the job. I watch managers who do not enforce their expectations and their team runs all over them. Enforce the expectations and build a team with mutual respect.
Posted by: Stacy
09/07/11 at 12:13 PM

Leadership
Posted by: Ma
09/07/11 at 12:10 PM

Understanding and reinforcing your organization's mission. Many personnel and management problems can be resolved if you approach them from the perspective of promoting the organization's mission & values.
Posted by: Victoria
09/07/11 at 12:05 PM

HONESTY. All other traits that make great leaders/managers flow from this cornerstone character trait. If you aren't honest in your dealings with everyone around you, including yourself, then all else is for not. Employees and co-workers will not invest in you if they feel you are dishonest and untrustworthy.
Posted by: Chuck
09/07/11 at 12:04 PM

Empathy. No mater how high up a manager goes, She should be able to empathize with her subordinates in terms of job satisfaction, tasks, prioritizing, etc. When we become detached, we dehumanize ourselves and block open communication.
Posted by: Elizabeth
09/07/11 at 11:44 AM

To communicate with their employees. That makes them feel a part of the business and keeps them engaged.
Posted by: Hoby Hughes
09/07/11 at 11:40 AM

Ability to admit when they're wrong
Posted by:
09/07/11 at 11:35 AM

I believe the most important trait for a manager is the capability to listen to his team, communicate to his team not at them. To solicit ideas from team on topics that may or may not need resolution. The success of a good manager is the team he supports and works with.
Posted by: Barbara
09/07/11 at 11:34 AM

Ability to listen. I think that most staff just want to be heard. Whether we can make changes or not, they want the chance to tell us what they think, feel, etc. If you take the time to sit down and really listen to them, I think that most of their anger or worry is removed.
Posted by: JK
09/07/11 at 11:23 AM

Coaching. Helping your team see that they had the answers inside themselves the whole time is priceless.
Posted by:
09/07/11 at 11:22 AM

INTEGRITY! It is up to you to keep or lose your integrity. No one wants to work for a dishonest person. Nor can a leader without integrity get the majority to follow willingly. Even if an employee does what he or she is told, the trust and loyalty will not be present. Employees wiil do what they must to keep their jobs, but they will not work to excell the organization because they cannot trust receiving the rewards. Lack of integrity reduces morale and productivity.
Posted by: Patti C., MBA
09/07/11 at 11:18 AM

Listening skills, and the ability to see things from the employee's viewpoint or the customer/patients viewpoint. What would be fair in their eyes? It is helpful to empathize first with a situation and not jump to a wrong conclusion, or assume the worst when looking at ones motivation in a situation.
Posted by: Betsee Lawson
09/07/11 at 11:15 AM

Patience.
Posted by: Rocio Delao
09/07/11 at 10:58 AM

Integrity. Treating all with respect. Often managers will speak poorly about other managers, but expect staff to still respect these managers. We do a dis-service to our organization when we speak poorly about anyone.
Posted by:
09/07/11 at 10:38 AM

Being able to step in and do any job in their department when absences occur. Also being able to dictate duties without being an ass.
Posted by: Cindy
09/07/11 at 10:25 AM

Fairness & Honesty You will earn employees' respect if you are fair and honest.
Posted by:
09/07/11 at 10:22 AM

Compassion. One tends to gleen more if a conversation starts with compassion for the employee. They took a chance on coming to you in the first place. Then you follow with your other great skills of assessment and encouragement. No employee will every feel slighted if at first you relate to them and the subject being discussed. More often then not there is an emotional attachment involved. Once you get past that, then you can deal with the rest objectively.
Posted by: Linda
09/07/11 at 10:21 AM

Trust and honesty
Posted by:
09/07/11 at 10:19 AM

Having good listening skills and communicating...When you listen you can evaluate, when you evaluate you can build on strengths and empower your people. Communication has always and will always be the key to the success of anyone in a management position!
Posted by: Shirley Duggan
09/07/11 at 10:15 AM

Trust/Loyalty. If subordinants & peers both inside the organization and outside cannot trust and depend that you will always try to do the right thing then they will not willingly follow. They have to see you are willing to admit to mistakes in order for them to be comfortable taking ownership of a mistake. They need to trust that even though you will hold them accountable you will not throw them under the bus. When you say you don't know something but will find the answer, you are empowering them to do the same. The confidence you build in them comes from them knowing you will always be honest.
Posted by: carol montag
09/07/11 at 10:12 AM

I believe that the most important trait for a manager is problem solving. Specifically, the ability to dissect complex issues so as to understand the issue clearly and devise the most appropriate course of action.
Posted by:
09/07/11 at 10:06 AM

Listening
Posted by:
09/07/11 at 09:49 AM

Integrity - A person of integrity is credible and fair. Staff know the manager is forthright and not playing games.
Posted by: Cindy
09/07/11 at 09:47 AM

The most important trait for a manager is flexibility. Dealing with varying persons, personalities, situations requires an understanding that allows flexibility in perception. Managing is difficult and requires an investment of ones time to learn and grow because situations encountered can be as unique as those managed and it is the manager's job to navigate.
Posted by: Darlene Handy
09/07/11 at 09:46 AM

I believe fairness and compassion. Not everyone thinks like the boss and that has to be taken into consideration. Everybody has a side of the story.
Posted by: Marsha
09/07/11 at 09:45 AM

The most important trait of a manager is to work with you not against you, working as a team opens doors.
Posted by: Chrisie
09/07/11 at 09:43 AM

The ability to be unbiased toward others. That gives a leader the advantage of dealing with the issue and not the individual.
Posted by: Sharob B
09/07/11 at 09:42 AM

One who is a team player and looks out for their team. Being on the same team, you want everyone to win.
Posted by: Caryn B.
09/07/11 at 09:41 AM

Compassion. People go to work every day to make a living, help companies make money, and hopefully find fulfillment in what they do. Although managers need ensure that that their team operates within established guidelines and policies, recognizing that they are people first will help steer managers into using leadership techniques and a motivational style effective for each individual. In turn, the team will respect you and be more loyal to the organization.
Posted by: Jenni Soto
09/07/11 at 09:35 AM

I think the most important trait for a manager is flexibility. The best laid plans don't always end up being practicable, so a manager must be willing and able to implement alternative solutions for unplanned obstacles, often at a moment's notice.
Posted by: Teresa
09/07/11 at 09:31 AM

Wisdom. This trait surpasses knowledge and skill and even leadership abilitites. Wisdom is the trait that enables a manager to apply all other managerial talents and skills appropriately and most effectively.
Posted by: Ann
09/07/11 at 09:27 AM

Leadership ability to manage, guide and influence his team.
Posted by: Denise Weglowski
09/07/11 at 09:23 AM

The ability to share vision and mission with your staff and motivate them to stay focused on the task that contribute to fulfilling that vision and mission.
Posted by: Bethy
09/07/11 at 09:21 AM

Lead by example! Don't ask your employees to do anything that you wouldn't do.
Posted by: Tammy
09/07/11 at 09:21 AM

Listening skills
Posted by: RB
09/07/11 at 09:16 AM

Having strong leadership skills that shows through positive engagement with associates and understanding their needs as well as guests and the business in all aspects.
Posted by: jessica c
09/07/11 at 09:13 AM