How do you find a good (design) manager?

For someone who has had a few 6-month stints, I get a lot of ‘Why did you leave that role?’

It took me a while to find ‘the’ answer that sums it up: it wasn’t the companies. It was the managers. One can’t have the same problem in three different places. Turns out, I just hadn’t found the right boss yet.

But there’s a silver lining. Switching jobs allowed me to work with fantastic people. Working with different managers in design and beyond taught me a lot about what makes a great leader.

1. They teach you how to think rather than what.
2. They shield you from unwanted heat.
3. Strongly opinionated about what a good user experience is.
4. They are great articulators, both upwards and downwards the hierarchy.
5. They are great at breaking down complex problems.
6. They know when to critique and when not to.
7. They question the design, not the designer.
8. They never criticise you and your work in your absence.
9. They are always reachable.
10. They are transparent about their expectations of you.
11. They praise you in public and critique you in private.
12. They trust you from day one.
13. They demonstrate high empathy for you.
14. They inform you when you’re wrong, but with respect.
15. They want you to succeed, always.