Everyone who has seen the movie Star Wars wishes he’d had a mentor like the wise Jedi Master, Yoda, the greenish-grey, pointy-eared elfin creature who coached Luke Skywalker through every emotional crisis and physical challenge imaginable.  Remember Yoda’s cryptic advice?  “Ready you are?  What do you know of ready?  Difficult it is.”

As an executive search consultant, I interviewed many candidates who told me that they were good managers.  Some were and some were not. What wisdom I have, is the result of observing the successes and failures of these people and the companies for whom they worked.  None of them knew that they were among my many mentors.

I often participate in “experiential learning assignments” required of business students; and I pass on what I learned from my mentors.  The following is the result of one such interview.

What qualities do you believe a successful manager should have?

“A good manager realizes that she is managing three things simultaneously: the people serving under her, the process which she is in charge of and last of all, communications with the management teams beside her and above her.  Hopefully, she will master listening carefully, motivating teams, structuring work, managing change, sharing credit, mentoring and seeing around corners.”

What are positive aspects of being a manager?

“As a manager, if you work for the right organization, you will have the flexibility to be able to hire the type of people and create the environment that makes the challenges and tasks you face fun.  I can’t think of a better positive than that.”

What are negative aspects of being a manager?

“I can’t call these things ‘negative’ aspects; but I can certainly call them challenges.  Often managers are required to perform within a business structure or culture that does not support the goals the manager is expected to reach.  Without a lot of experience, this is very difficult to identify and even more difficult to correct.  Also, for many managers, it is hard to develop the ability to say ‘no,’ to maintain the perspective necessary for making objective decisions and the willingness to bear the stress of performance accountability.”

To read more of this column by Susan LeMiles Holmes, read the February 2015 edition of VBR under the “Current & Past Issues” tab on this website, or pick up a copy on news stands.