Three types of manager...

To my thinking, there are three main types of manager.

Type 1:  These managers make all other managers seem bad.  They empower you, challenge you, and support you - all in the right balance.

Type 2: These managers range from "I only manage people to enjoy the exquisite pain I can inflict on them" through to "as long as we get the right results, I don't care what my underlings think".  It's a broad range, but it amounts to the same - people don't really matter.

Type 3: These managers are generally ineffectual, lazy, or just incapable.  They have one redeeming quality though - they know it.  Because they know it, they keep out of your way.  As long as you seem to be doing the right things, they will leave you to it.