Contrary to common assumptions, top managers around the globe share very little in common. When you line them up, you’ll notice diverse genders, ethnicities, ages, and body types. Each applies unique methods of motivating, directing, and connecting with others.

Yet beneath all these differences lies a singular trait. After interviewing tens of thousands of outstanding managers, Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman uncovered a key insight repeatedly emphasized by these leaders: management should not be guided by rigid, universal rules.

Exceptional managers defy convention. They disregard the traditional notion that a manager’s primary responsibility is to identify employees’ weaknesses and attempt to fix them. Instead, they accept that most personal traits are unlikely to change. Successful managers focus on amplifying employees’ strengths rather than enforcing perfection…