If you have recently been promoted to a position of authority at work, you may be anxious about how to proceed in the role of 'boss'. Being a good manager is no easy task; however, by following a few simple guidelines it is one that is infinitely achievable.

To begin with, you need to work at developing an authoritative attitude. This does not mean you should behave as if you need to attend anger management classes. On the contrary, you need to be careful that you control your emotions at all times, and that your key modes of behaviour are professionally neutral and firm.

It is also vital that you are a presence in the office. Many managers tend to leave their teams to get on with business, and while this has its perks, it doesn't allow your staff to get to know you.

While it is true that you are a figure of authority, your staff also needs to feel that they can communicate with you. It is important that you appear approachable at least in some way or you will find yourself stuck with a fleet of employees and very little idea of the dynamic relationships that govern them.

In short, the key to being a good manager lies in assuming the right attitude. You need to be both authoritative, firm and approachable, and very importantly, you need to also maintain a firm grasp of your temper.