Television’s The Office may make you laugh, but when you are considering the realities with regard to your own office, hiring a manager like the one portrayed by Steve Carell is probably something you should avoid. Recognizing that your office dynamic is based largely on how your manager relates to and interacts with the staff is key. Knowing exactly what to look for is sometimes challenging, so we’ve compiled a list to get you started.

Qualities of a Good Manager:

1. Open/honest communicator. So they can chat about the latest sports news or celebrity gossip, but are they really going to be able to communicate effectively with your team? Can they offer constructive criticism when necessary and provide the feedback that will keep your team engaged and performing at their best? The ability to communicate is an essential quality of a good manager. Unlike Michael Scott’s penchant for avoidance, a good manger should be able to confront problems in an appropriate way to achieve results.

2. Healthy ego. If their head is too big to fit through the door, chances are team morale is going to suffer. That being said, a healthy dose of self-confidence is necessary to keep them from being railroaded by their staff. A balance is crucial.

3. Yoda-like mentoring abilities. Ok, so maybe they won’t need to teach your team about saving the universe, but they should be able to coach and mentor team members effectively. Establishing strong working relationships is one of the most important qualities of a good manager.

4. Firm but fair. If you hire someone like Meryl Streep’s character Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada, your team won’t want to perform. Instead, essential qualities of a good manager include flexibility, the ability to acknowledge other’s accomplishments, compassion and fairness.

5. Thinks outside the box. A good manager is someone who is part of the solution. If they are really good at one thing but not so good at everything else, this isn’t going to help you. Instead, hire a manager that works well cross-functionally.

Whether you use The Office as a comedic form of stress relief or as a metaphor for what NOT to look for in a manager, it is clear that the qualities of a good manager are important for ensuring that your company runs like a well-oiled machine. Taking these characteristics into consideration during your next hiring session can help ensure that your company does not turn out like the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company.

To learn more about the qualities of a good manager, please contact Permanent Search Group by calling 1-905-276-2006 or visit www.permanentsearch.com