2. Be an active listener

No-one wants a boss who doesn’t listen. But listening and really hearing are different skills.

“Active listening is vital if you want to be a manager whose team trusts them, as well as a great colleague,” says Ashley-Timms. “Active listening is different to regular listening – to be actively listening you must give people your full attention without being distracted (difficult in our digital age!) or jumping in to give your input. It’s crucial for fostering more authentic engagement and higher performance, and is one of the skills that an excellent people-focused manager possesses.”

To improve your active listening, Ashley-Timms suggests really tuning in to how a colleague is feeling when they approach you to talk. “Consider what their mood is like – do they seem stressed? How rapidly are they breathing? How much energy do they seem to have? What aren’t they telling you? Concentrate on how people are speaking and what they’re saying – as well as what they aren’t saying,” she tells Stylist.

Empathetic listening is also a great skill for a manager to have. Try acknowledging that you’ve listened and encouraging people to open up more, to help forge better relationships and cultivate trust.

“You might say, “I hear what you’re saying. That sounds really difficult; I absolutely get it. Let’s work together on this. May I ask you a question?” notes Ashley-Timms. “Using this type of listening with your colleagues will develop a valuable skill that will stand you in excellent stead for promotion and when you become a manager.”

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