So What Makes a Successful Manager Successful?

Adrian S. Potter
3 min readApr 27, 2024

Blend these things to become a more effective leader.

Photo by Smartworks Coworking on Unsplash

A successful manager excels in building relationships, working collaboratively, and influencing others without direct authority. They typically possess a combination of interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills.

Here’s how I would define such a manager:

1. Strong Interpersonal Skills

They connect with people on a personal level, fostering trust, respect, and rapport. They actively listen to others, empathize with their concerns, and strive to understand their perspectives.

2. Effective Communication

They remain adept at conveying ideas clearly and persuasively, both verbally and in writing. They can articulate a compelling vision, outline goals, and communicate expectations in a way that inspires others to action.

3. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Great managers demonstrate empathy towards others, understanding their emotions, motivations, and needs. They have developed heightened emotional intelligence, can manage their own emotions effectively, and seem to navigate interpersonal dynamics with sensitivity and tact.

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Adrian S. Potter

Antisocial Extrovert · Writer and Poet, Engineer, Consultant, Public Speaker · Writing about self-improvement, gratitude, and creativity · www.adrianspotter.com