Being a good manager isn’t just about what you can encourage other people to do, it’s also about managing your own performance.

1. Be accessible. Don’t hole up in your office all day — come out and visit with your employees. Let them know that they can always come to you with problems and concerns.
2. Be open to constructive criticism. It may not always be what you want to hear, but listening to constructive criticism gives you the chance to learn and grow from your mistakes.
3. Accept responsibility. Part of being the boss is accepting responsibility for the mistakes of all that you manage, not just your own.
4. Know there’s always room for improvement. No matter how good you think you are, your job can always be done better. Always be willing to learn.
5. Improve your skills. Learning is a lifelong process. You’re never too old to take a class or ask a co-worker to help you improve your knowledge.
6. Explain things simply. Don’t use big words or technical jargon just to sound smart and impress others. Your employees will understand and perform better if you explain simply and clearly what you need.
7. Instruct rather than order. You may be the boss, but you don’t have to be bossy. You’ll have more success if your requests are more tactfully delivered.
8. Include your staff in your plans. Don’t make your work top secret; let your employees know what’s going on and how they are expected to contribute.
9. Know your subordinates’ jobs. You don’t want to be caught with inferior job knowledge.
10. Be flexible. It’s fine to be firm in what you expect, but allow for flexibility in how it gets done.
11. Get regular feedback. Your employees and superiors can give you valuable feedback on how to improve your performance. Use this to your advantage.
12. Know your limitations. You can’t be everywhere doing everything all at once. Know the limits of your time and abilities and say no to things you know you can’t do.