Good managers who impacted your career?

Hi all,

I'm seeking examples & behaviors of what a good manager looks like – for you, because everyone is unique. A crowdsource from this special community.

Did you have a manager/s who particularly impacted your career, in a positive way? It's said that people follow good bosses, not companies or jobs. This has certainly been the case for me, and my mom when she first came to the US.

We all know what bad looks like - just scroll this sub 😅 - but what are signs of a good one? Brainstorming different ways to support each other in our careers, because there are so many different levers at play, and this sub's members have a wealth of experience. Also, everyone has a unique leadership & communication style and your role models will reflect that. I'm also curious on ways to be more supportive of other outstanding women colleagues.

  1. What did you guys connect over? How did you "win" them over that they started sponsoring you? (go off)
  2. How did they mentor / coach you? Give feedback. Transfer skills
  3. What qualities or behaviors from them would you seek to emulate
  4. How did they sponsor you? Put your name up for growth opportunities when you were ready?
  5. How did you watch out for their back / make them look good?
  6. Were there challenges with boundaries or team dynamics

Especially female mentors & male allies.

For example, with one female manager who became CPO then CEO, we connected over humor & treating people well. (I've noticed a lot of C-level women use humor as elbow grease to navigate discussions among all the men.) She'd take time to explain the business domain to me and was the biggest people advocate I'd ever met. When the co. had lay-offs, she reviewed resumes for survivors who wanted to leave. She noticed I wasn't a morning person and coached me to set boundaries on morning meetings for my optimal performance. She over-functioned on every task in front of her.

Then there was a male manager (CPO) who was often championing/reposting the great work of women. He didn't need to say he was an ally or anything, his actions spoke louder than words. (Contrast this with more neutral / "equalist" male managers who act like the playing field is level.)