What's in a Manager?

This is a question that I find myself thinking of more often these days. The reason being is that I am now over three years into my professional career, excluding a part time gig in college (during which I had two managers). I have had the pleasure of working for many managers before that, though I realize I am only in my mid-twenties. So, here is my not-so-perfect, best-I-can-muster-up attempt at explaining to whoever might read this what a good manager is... and what a great manager is.

Let's start with the not-so-great manager. This manager likes to micromanage, and doesn't care about your development, or they lack any goals whatsoever. If you ever find yourself working for someone who has no goals for themselves, this is the biggest red flag of all. How can they be expected to help you grow if they aren't growing themselves? The micromanager, on the other hand, probably cares about how you will reflect on them too much, to the point where they are not willing to let you make mistakes and grow. If you find yourself in this situation, it actually is not the worst thing in the world, since they feel that your success is directly tied to theirs. You can actually grow here, though it can be difficult to do.

I have had two great managers in my career, and their styles were very different. The first, which was very early in my career, was extremely hands-off. They were willing to let me fumble around aimlessly, and, quite literally, would tell me to "Google it" when I asked them a question. As a software engineer, this is one of the most impactful things that someone has said to me. This taught me a resourcefulness that could only come from being thrown head first into the deep end. This manager did care about my growth, but not too much, since they knew that I would likely leave after college.

The second manager, however, has been absolutely phenomenal. They are not very hands on, unless I need them to be. They are willing to let me make mistakes, to let me grow at my own pace, and to let me take on projects that in hindsight were probably too big at the time. This manager operates in a capacity that I can only describe as a "servant leader" (Servant Leadership). They truly believe in me, and enable me to grow through providing me with whatever support is necessary. A true enabler and champion of his people, he leads with a quiet confidence that instills great trust and respect in those he leads. If there is something I have a question about, or something I am stuck on, he will without a doubt point me in the right direction. He is also an advocate. He advocates on behalf of his team, and does not stop until the issue is resolved. Be it a technical issue, personal issue, or anything in between, he is there to help. This is not a common trait in managers, though I am confident that it is the best way to lead for most individuals.

However, at the end of the day, it is up to you to learn and grow. A manager can only do so much, and it is up to you to take initiative, to ask questions, and ultimately to grow. No matter what position you find yourself in, you can always learn from those around you. However, if someone is intentionally holding you back, it is time to move on. That's my two cents.