My manager is so lovely that I don't know how to respond

[bgjfjrtjhnz]

I started a new job a few months ago, but my line manager is just so lovely. She is really supportive and encouraging and is only a few years older than me (we're both in our 20s) yet she's such a role model to me.

She is always telling senior management good things about me or deliberately bringing up good things I have done when we are in meetings with senior management. She is very empathetic and supportive and always checking in on me. I feel so lucky. I've never had a manager like it. My previous job I had a micro-manager who was really demanding so I feel like I've done a 180

Can you manager have a chat with mine?

Some people, a very small number, are just naturally good managers, but most have to be trained and develop over years. It’s great that you’ve such a good one. Take the time to look and understand how and why you think the person is so good, and embrace some of that in your own life and work too. It’s a great opportunity to learn from it.

Is she hiring?

Nice to hear good bosses exist in the wild. I’m going to live vicariously through you, OP. My boss is a total knob. Congratulations on doing better!

You don't have to respond. I can understand it is is hard when you're not used to it but no need. As others have said, just watch and learn!

Lovely. And you’ve clearly made a great start in your new job; well done

I had a line manager like this once, she was so awesome. She is absolutely the reason I stayed in the job so long but she also have me the confidence to move on. I don't think you can underestimate the importance of a good, supportive line manager.

Hang onto her and show your appreciation. Good managers (male or female) are a rarity but make such a difference. The majority are power hungry micro managers who are determined to make your life a misery.

Disagree that you shouldn't show your appreciation. She's human too, and probably working hard at being a good manager, and will be overthinking whether or not she's doing a good enough job for you.

I had to work hard to fix a toxic culture at my last place, and really appreciated both when people told me things did or didn't work. Only being told when things went wrong was demoralising.

(My current boss is lovely but a bit of a wet lettuce. I'm planning to give her honest feedback that she can't just keep backing down to whoever is emoting the loudest - she needs to manage people and to make business-oriented decisions or I can't do my job effectively. But then this job needs me more than I need it!)