As a manager, your goal is no doubt to produce results for your employer while creating a team environment that leaves your employees satisfied. Neither is an easy thing to achieve, and building strong relationships with employees can be challenging.
But if you're looking to attract talent, you'll need to come off as the type of boss prospective hires want to work for. That's because 76% of professionals say that when it comes to accepting a new job, it's imperative they like the person they would be reporting to, according to new data from LinkedIn. Along these lines, 66% of job candidates say they'd turn down an otherwise viable opportunity if they didn't believe they could respect their new manager. And 39% say they'd reject a job offer if they didn't think their new manager would be able to teach them anything.
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Being a good boss isn't just important to the hiring process, though; it's also a key factor in employee retention. In fact, 42% of professionals have quit a job because of a manager they didn't respect or work well with.
If you're invested in being the best boss possible, it helps to know what professionals are looking for in that regard. Here are the top traits today's workers seek from their managers, according to LinkedIn.
1. Problem solving
A good 68% of working professionals want a manager who knows how to tackle challenges and doesn't get flustered. When managers are thrown easily, that stress can trickle down the pipeline, causing employees stress as well.
2. Time management
Time management is a crucial job skill at any level, but it's particularly essential at the manager level, according to 44% of workers today. By setting a good example in this regard, you're more apt to have your employees do the same.
3. Decisiveness
A wishy-washy manager can be frustrating to deal with, which is why 40% of professionals cite decisiveness as a must-have quality among their managers. The more decisive you are, the stronger a leader you're apt to come off as.
4. Empathy
To be a good manager, you need the ability to put yourself in your employees' shoes and recognize the challenges they're facing. A good 38% of today's workers list empathy as a quality that distinguishes poor managers from the best of the bunch.
5. Compassion
Some managers think they need to be tough on their employees to get results. But actually, kindness and consideration may be a better way to go. An estimated 36% of workers today say that compassion is a key trait that strong managers have, so it may be time to go easy on the gruffness and start being nicer to the people who work for you.
The more effective you are as a manager, the more likely you'll be to not only attract new talent, but entice the people who already work for you to keep doing so. Even if you tend to get positive feedback from your team, it never hurts to reflect on your behavior as a manager and seek out ways to constantly improve.
