Much has been said and written about good and bad managers. However if I had to pick just one trait that separates the good managers from the bad ones it is that good managers are willing to let good people go. For all the good things you can learn from a manager, all the experience you will gather and all the hope you are building for a future
As a manager if you have a great team of star performers or even if you only have one star performer you start to get very anxious when they talk about wanting more challenges, new opportunities or stepping up in the ranks of the company. For what will then happen to the performance of the team? Will you still be able to deliver on your targets or will performance start to fail you?
This is however the wrong way of looking at it. Managers should understand that your ability to develop your people for bigger opportunities will pave the way for recruiting an even better team. If you are seen as someone that can boost people’s careers then you can be certain that the performance of your team will keep improving even if you let star performers go. This is due to the simple fact that people want to part of your team because you are seen as an enabler in their career.
I myself have had both good and bad managers and clearly see the difference measured on this one trait alone. The good ones help you plan for the future and leverage their network and opportunities to help you get where you want to go. The bad ones – well they bite your head off when you make the slightest mention about wanting to make a move.
So dear manager – don’t be a barrier for the careers of your team members. Be an enabler and help them unleash their full potential! Please share your experiences with both good and bad managers and whether or not you feel that this trait is the real difference maker or not?