I've had the benefit of working under several, wither as a direct report, or as an executive presence that modelled positive habits across an org (includes one

I've had the benefit of working under several, wither as a direct report, or as an executive presence that modelled positive habits across an org (includes one CEO that I've worked for twice and would do so again if he decided to start a new venture). I consider them good for a multitude of reasons that don't necessarily have a coherent theme (e.g. "Servant management" or other fun business catch phrases) and my bias is that they set me up to become a manager myself, when I didn't think that was something I was cut out for, but actually found I excel at in the right org. There are three that I would consider essential to my own career, and they all had different expressions of the following: 1. self-aware: they knew themselves, and could use that to understand how others reacted around them. They could modulate their behavior to find the 'sweet spot' in situations they were involved in. 2. deliberate and thoughtful. They weren't shy about taking ownership of things, coaching individuals towards getting team goals accomplished, but looking into the potentials of folks to see where "unseen" possibilities may be. 3. calm but resolute: they keep it cool under pressure, but don't have qualms about pushing back when they see other forces stepping offsides. 4. they treat their teams as a 'meta' project that can in fact evolve as the abilities and skills of its members expand and change; rather than just settling into managing a fixed pattern of rigid deliverables, they know that nothing in this industry is 'fixed' or 'rigid' and can improvise or adapt such that it minimizes organizational disruptions. 5. They have personalities. Real ones with quirks, and don't sublimate them into the common trope of detached, milquetoast functionary. That doesn't mean they fly their freak flag and make a spectacle of things, just that they don't act so reserved and distant as to be an enigma. That makes them relatable/approachable, even when you have little in common in terms of practical experiences. Other than the above, where Haswell said in https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36390756 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36390756 is bang on.