What Makes a Great Manager According to Research?

 Management research helps us better understand what makes an effective manager. It's also important to recognize that leadership expectations evolve over time, so research should always be viewed within the context of the era in which it was conducted. While many leadership qualities have remained consistent for centuries, the emphasis placed on specific skills has changed as workplaces and technology have evolved.

Over the past two decades, Google's Project Oxygen examined what distinguishes highly effective managers. The research identified several key characteristics, including coaching employees, empowering team members, communicating clearly, supporting employee growth and career development, possessing the technical knowledge needed to guide the team, and making sound decisions.

These findings provide a useful framework for aspiring managers. As you develop your own leadership style, consider how you can strengthen these skills to better support your team, improve performance, and create a positive and productive work environment.

Following the Data: The Research Behind Great Managers

• Google's Project Oxygen analyzed employee feedback, performance data, interviews, and surveys to identify the behaviors that make managers most effective. The research demonstrated that great managers significantly improve employee engagement, team performance, and organizational success.
• The study identified key characteristics of strong managers, including being a good coach, empowering employees rather than micromanaging, expressing genuine concern for team members' success and well-being, and being productive and results-oriented.
• Effective managers communicate clearly, listen actively, share information openly, support career development, and provide regular, constructive feedback that helps employees improve and grow.
• Strong managers create a clear vision and strategy for their teams, make sound decisions, solve problems effectively, and encourage collaboration while fostering an inclusive and psychologically safe work environment.
• Google's research showed that management skills can be developed through data-driven training, coaching, and continuous feedback, enabling organizations to improve leadership quality and overall business performance.

Characteristics of Strong Managers (Project Oxygen)

• Is a good coach.
• Empowers the team and avoids micromanaging.
• Creates an inclusive team environment and shows concern for employees' success and well-being.
• Is productive and results-oriented.
• Communicates effectively by listening and sharing information.
• Supports employees' career development and discusses performance regularly.
• Has a clear vision and strategy for the team.
• Possesses key technical skills that help guide and advise the team.
• Collaborates across teams and builds strong working relationships.
• Makes sound decisions and solves problems effectively.

Google re:Work. (n.d.). Following the data: The research behind great managers. Google. https://rework.withgoogle.com/intl/en/guides/following-the-data-the-research-behind-great-managers