A good communicator and negotiator. A supervisor who manages a team not only has to manage each direct report and the work they produce, a good manager also has to liaise between co-workers and negotiate reliance on team members and those outside the team. Their ability to observe and see options to work together is critical to team productivity and longevity.

—Debra L. Dexter, Fiskdale, Massachusetts

Ability to lead and influence without solely relying on their organizational authority.

—Jerome Ricafrente, Manila, Philippines

A leader who accepts responsibility for when things don't go according to plan. And one who propels people forward, coaches people often, encourages new approaches to the work, and challenges them to assume responsibilities outside their comfort zone.

—Julio C. Govreau, St. Louis, Missouri

Trust. When managers are more than capable of doing things—probably faster and more effectively—yet they completely trust their people to do the job and believe in them, they become great supervisors and leaders and earn that trust.

—Aya Medhat, APTD, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia