While we have all had some time to get over our disappointment at England not bagging the trophy at the Euros, there is no question that managers have come out a winner.
Much has been made of Gareth Southgate, England manager, and his exemplary work with the England team that took them to incredible success.
It’s an amazing journey and pundits came out of the woodwork to celebrate Southgate’s leadership abilities throughout the Championship.
Gary Neville said on ITV: “The standard of leaders in this country the past couple of years has been poor, looking at that man (Southgate), he’s everything a leader should be, respectful, humble, he tells the truth.”
So, what makes a good manager?
Firstly, being a manager is a tough position to hold.
You will feel the pressure from your team and the bosses above you and be expected to bring in the results.
Managers are a hugely important cog in the wheel though, who have a massive impact around them. A survey found that 57 percent of people have quit their job because of a bad relationship with their boss. Findings showed that people leave managers not companies.
Add in a pandemic and there’s no doubt this has been a tough year for managers, so it is in everyone’s interest to help managers cope and communicate better.
Let’s look at what skills make a good manager and why Southgate has been lauded so widely.
- When Southgate was originally chosen to be England manager, there was disbelief. His quiet manner was considered a weakness for example, and instead has proven to be a strength. He listens to those around him, weighs up the evidence and makes a decision.
- Southgate’s work around inclusivity and diversity has been welcomed by his team. Their manager is also one of their biggest champions, supporting their beliefs and work outside of the game around social and racial justice. Even when the criticism pours in. His team knows Southgate has their backs.
- His honesty, not only with the team, but with external stakeholders such as reporters demonstrates his authenticity. He truly believes in the team and the game, knows his stuff inside out and is open about his approach.
- Southgate is invested in every member of the team. He talks openly with each one at the end of every game to offer advice and encouragement. Southgate also knows the strengths and weaknesses of his players and upskills them where necessary. He encourages the players to speak up in meetings and have a voice in how they play. It lets Southgate understand their knowledge and skills and can offer fresh insight into a situation.
- He trusts his team. Southgate openly does and this gives them the confidence to make important decisions on the pitch. He has set them up for success by giving them the knowledge, skills and now the belief in themselves that they can win. And so far, they are. At the end of the day, Southgate isn’t on the pitch, the England team is, and it’s down to them to make the final decisions.
Lead by example
Ultimately, a good manager knows their team, their strengths and weaknesses and how to bring a team together to achieve your goals.
If you’re stepping into the managerial role, take time to decide what sort of manager you want to be. Look at the values of your company and understand how these can be translated into actions and tactics. You have long-term goals to achieve and you need to ensure both you and your team are performing at your very best.
Ultimately, we all need managers to be at the top of their game and support those around them.
But, when we consider the Herculean efforts undergone since the beginning of the pandemic by the UK’s managerial employees, it’s maybe right that we should put a comforting arm around them, too.
