1. Manage!
   
   They focus on getting their people to deliver the key activities and don't attempt do too much themselves. The best managers delegate widely, using the ethic 'Ask for forgiveness, not for permission' to free their people from blame or wrongdoing.
   
   
2. Build the Best Teams
   
   Leveraging the exceptional talents of all the people around them, managers develop and utilise capability fully - and glue it together.
   
   
3. Focus on Delivery
   
   Managers are there to deliver the day to day tactical results the business or organisation needs. Here, there is little space for strategy or vision as such, but those great at Managing People will keep a reference point there. Every manager's defined goal is measurable results.
   
   
4. Build Relationships
   
   As it's all about people, great managers build relationships easily and make it a priority, day-in-day out. They spend a lot of time with and listening to, their people.
   
   
5. Accept Feedback
   
   Actually, they don't just accept it, they suck feedback in - they use their excellent listening skills to seek out feedback all the time - in every interaction.
   
   
6. Develop Others
   
   Grasping the opportunities, the best managers quickly link them to those
   
   
   who can make progress in their own development - and in line with ongoing Succession Planning, prepare for the future well in advance.
   
   
7. Are Accountable
   
   They are very clear that they are 'where the buck stops'. No blame elsewhere, not upwards deflection of decisions; no 'someone else's fault'. They are where the action is and they accept it. It's down to them.
   
   
8. Set Standards
   
   To ensure that everyone is clear, great managers have simple and clear standards throughout their area of operation - ideally created in collaboration with their people.
   
   
9. Are Determined
   
   Focusing entirely on value-creation, they stick to plans, policies and change programmes like glue. They have a skill to know and deliver what is right, without veering from their Vision.
   
   
10. Can Be Trusted
    
    The best managers are ethically sound, fair and honest. They make promises only when they know they can deliver. Everyone is treated equally and their own behaviour models fairness and transparency.

About the Author

Copyright 2005 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, executives and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website,
www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com. (Note to editors. Feel free to use this article - it would be good if you could include a live link)