What makes a good manager? Be a chameleon

If your next career goal is to become a people manager, then there’s one crucial skill you need to develop: adaptability. Here’s how to display it.

A good manager is flexible. They can shift and flex in response to the changing environment around them and, crucially, the different motivations of the individuals they lead. In short, they are a chameleon – adapting to suit the situation at hand.

For instance, the best managers look at the rapid changes occurring in today’s world of work with an open mind. They experiment with new ways of performing tasks and motivate their team to adapt and grow accordingly to remain successful. They’ll juggle multiple responsibilities effectively and won’t drop the ball when priorities change suddenly.

Good managers adapt their leadership style for each team member according to what works best for them. For example, one team member may value regular feedback and direction, but another may consider this to be micromanagement.

The best people managers adapt development plans to suit the needs and goals of the individuals in their team. For example, an employee who wants to grow their skills in a particular area could be offered a relevant opportunity. A poor performer may need one-on-one coaching.

Management skills in business at a glance

Employers are paying more attention to who they promote into people management roles. They are assessing top performers to determine if they have the necessary soft skills to lead. Adaptability is now top of many job specifications.

So how can you demonstrate the skills required for management? Here are our tips:

Be adjustable 

Whether organisational, technological or skills-based, change is inevitable. Next time something new is proposed or put forward, embrace it, shift the way you work accordingly. Then help others in your team to do the same. 

You must show you can move out of your comfort zone, seeing change as an opportunity for growth and innovation.

Show emotional intelligence

Understand your emotional response to change, problems and stress. If necessary, work on improving your emotional intelligence (EQ) so you remain calm and poised in these situations. 

If you see someone else struggling, be helpful and empathetic. Don’t forget to tap into positive emotions. For instance, could you give a colleague an inspiring pep-talk to help them see the positives that can result from adapting to change?

Keep updated on your industry 

Be aware and responsive to changes occurring in your industry or sector. Join relevant LinkedIn Groups, attend industry events and networking functions, tune into webinars and podcasts and keep an eye on what the competition. 

These will help you stay on top of current trends – and then adapt by plugging any resulting skill or knowledge gaps.

Be respectful

More workplaces are embracing diversity of thought and collaboration to encourage employees to share ideas. Many of the best ideas come from multiple points of view.

Show that you can adapt by embracing the ideas of others. In cases where you may not agree with a colleague’s opinion, keep the resulting debate on-task and professional, never personal. Never put a fellow employee down for speaking their mind.

Keep going

If your first solution to a problem is turned down by your manager, come up with an alternative. Don’t dwell on the rejection of your idea or become resentful – there could be many reasons you haven’t considered as to why it was not viable. 

Instead, accept the decision and go back to the drawing board to create an even better course of action. Your dedication and determination will be noted.

What you need to remember about management skills

With these tips, you can demonstrate you have the adaptability required to step into the world of people management. You’ll show you can flex in response to what motives your employees and changes in your workplace, industry and wider world of work. 

Importantly, you’ll demonstrate an ability to adapt to suit any situation at hand. You’ll be a true chameleon.

For more information on your recruitment needs, please contact your local consultant.