Being a good boss or manager isn’t about giving orders. That’s what a dictator does. An effective manager should strive to lead by example, show respect for his or her employees, and inspire subordinates to give their best efforts. It helps greatly if employees find their manager likable. It takes an incredibly rare individual to be unlikable yet still charismatic, brilliant, and lucky enough to become a successful boss. Hence, taking steps to be more likable is a worthwhile investment of time and energy.

Here are 5 traits of a likable manager:

Compassion

Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Would you respond to your management style? You’ve surely had bosses in the past. What qualities in them did you admire most, and are you displaying those same qualities? Approach every interaction with multiple points of view

Reliability

Employees have to know they can count on you. This means keeping promises, following through, being fair, always prepared, and punctual. Reliability demonstrates your respect for the people under you and your commitment to providing them with an effective work environment. Furthermore, it sets an example for them to live up to.

Flexibility

Being understanding and flexible is good for your employee’s health, and that’s good for your company. A willingness to accommodate your employees’ personal lives can get the best out of them while making them feel valued, keeping satisfaction high and turnover low.

Friendliness

Everyone wants to matter, so make your employees feel like you care. Learn their names, greet them when you see them, ask how their day is going, and get a sense of what’s going on in their lives. Creating an air of friendliness makes you seem more approachable when they have problems you might be able to solve or new ideas that could benefit the company

Positivity

Moods are contagious, and a leader who is often visibly angry or frustrated is likely to pass that on to his or her employees, harming morale and denting productivity. Conversely, a supervisor who brings a positive, supportive attitude into work will spread that desirable mental state among the staff.

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