Developing trusting relationships is critical to efficiently leading a team. To establish trust, leaders need to be available, honest, confident and respectful.

A great nurse manager must know how to talk and listen to his staff. Without trust, you cannot successfully influence others, lead your team through conflict or manage a crisis.

Like any relationship, it takes time, communication and effort to build trust. Effective communication is essential to conflict and relationship management.

A great nurse manager should have a great sense of humor, must be organized, creative and flexible.

A great nurse manager should set standards and a clear professional example. Nurses are expected to behave professionally and the same holds true for managers.

Another quality of a great nurse manager is advocacy. A great nurse manager might have to advocate for staff to ensure a safe and comfortable practice environment.