A Gallup poll of over 1 million employees revealed that the number one reason people quit their jobs is a bad boss or immediate supervisor. This isn’t just a morale issue; poor management is costly — impacting recruitment, absenteeism, engagement, productivity, and ultimately, the bottom line.

In 2008, Google’s research initiative, Project Oxygen, sought to answer a critical question: Do managers matter? The findings were clear — managers do make a difference. The study identified eight key behaviours common among their best-performing managers. A decade later, Google revisited and updated the study, adding two new behaviours.

So, what can you and your organisation learn from these ten Project Oxygen behaviors?

1. Be a Good Coach

Google found that great managers are exceptional coaches. As Sir John Whitmore, a pioneer in workplace coaching, stated:

“Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximise their own performance.”

Instead of providing quick answers, guide your team to solve problems themselves. Establish clear goals, hold regular reviews, and use open-ended questions to foster learning and growth.

2. Empower Your Team – Avoid Micromanaging

Micromanagement stifles creativity and autonomy. Delegate decision-making to those closest to the issue — they often have the best insights. Empowering your team builds trust and accountability.

3. Create an Inclusive Environment

Effective teams feel psychologically safe, enabling creativity and open dialogue. Build trust through individual attention, encourage honesty, and prioritise well-being. Make time for one-on-one conversations to truly listen and empathise with your team’s concerns.

4. Focus on Productivity and Results

Dave Ulrich, a leading management expert, emphasised that leadership isn’t just about personal attributes but also delivering results:

Effective leadership = Attributes x Results

Set clear expectations, establish SMART goals and provide consistent feedback to ensure your team achieves its objectives.

5. Communicate Effectively

Good managers listen actively and share information openly. Regularly provide updates, explain decisions, and recognise achievements. For remote teams, ensure clarity on expectations and maintain frequent check-ins to keep engagement high.

6. Support Career Development

Jack Welch, a renowned business leader, once said:

“Before you are a leader, success is about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is about growing others.”

Have regular one-on-one discussions to understand your team’s aspirations, provide learning opportunities, and give constructive feedback. Help them grow into their potential.

7. Have a Clear Vision

When people see how their work contributes to the organisation’s goals, they are more engaged and motivated. Always explain the why behind tasks to connect individual contributions to the broader vision.

8. Demonstrate Technical Skills

While technical expertise may get you promoted, Google’s research found it is the least important of the ten behaviours. You don’t need to do every job yourself, but having the knowledge to advise your team effectively is key.

9. Foster Collaboration

Breaking down silos encourages innovation and efficiency. Collaborating across teams promotes learning, fosters a shared sense of purposes and aligns efforts toward common goals.

10. Make Strong Decisions

Managers face countless decisions daily. Great leaders critically evaluate options and make informed, timely choices. Decision-making is a vital leadership skill.

Leadership: A Skill You Can Develop

Leadership isn’t innate — it’s a skill that can be learned and honed. Organisations must invest in developing their managers to build stronger teams and achieve sustainable success.

If you’re looking to enhance your leadership capabilities or develop the skills of your team, our programmes can help:

• LEAD™ for senior leaders: Starts April 2025
• LEADlight for middle managers and supervisors: Starts March 2025

Both programmes are designed to improve performance, build awareness and prepare participants for future challenges.

As Dr. Frank Dick OBE, one of our expert Masterclass speakers, said:

“You don’t have to be sick to get better.”

Get in touch with us to start investing in your future.

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