Traits of a Good Man – Qualities to Look For in a Partner
When you’re dating and looking for someone new, it’s important to focus on the core criteria. Regardless of your romantic goals, you should look for a good man. A man who will be kind, supportive, and respectful. One-night stands and long-term relationship boyfriends alike should possess a number of good traits to ensure they treat you right.
In this article, we are going to explore what it means for a man to be good, look into the key characteristics of a great guy, and share tips for recognizing a good guy when you meet him.
What Makes a Man Truly Good?
First things first, what makes someone good? There are certain good qualities of a guy that, ideally, your partner should possess.
First of all, they need to be no stranger to integrity. A man can’t be good if he doesn’t stay true to his values, especially when it’s inconvenient and the temptation is high.
The same goes for kindness and empathy. So many people in this world are cruel and aren’t able to care about anyone but themselves, even if their lives depend on it. Kind nature is one of the best man qualities there is, so make sure your matches possess it before you commit to something with them.
Next is support without jealousy. This has nothing to do with other people but rather your boyfriend being able to cheer you no matter what. Even if your success is bigger than his, and especially if it threatens him a little. Unfortunately, partners quickly turn into our biggest haters when they can’t handle that their lover’s life is thriving when they don't.
Overall, a truly good man is someone who not only has a certain number of good traits but also, like any human, has questionable sides but is willing to work on them. If there are no major red flags, but certain things that worry you and he’s ready to change, then he is a good man indeed.
So many adults aren’t willing to take full responsibility for who they are and start the often painful process of self-improvement. If someone you meet is self-aware and is not all talk but also action, then it’s safe to say you’re in good hands.
Best Qualities of a Man – What to Look For in a Partner
We’ve briefly touched on what makes someone decent and a good romantic partner, now let’s dive deeper into the good traits in a man.
Emotional Intelligence & Maturity
We are simple girls, we don’t need much. Just give us a partner who is emotionally mature and intelligent, who is able to process his feelings in a sustainable way, and someone who you can go through highs and lows like grown-ups.
Honesty & Integrity
Liars and cheaters are annoying, but when someone refuses to be honest, even if they’re caught red-handed, now that is infuriating.
Integrity and honesty are hard to find in general, whether we’re talking about a romantic relationship, a friendship, or a work environment. However, just because it’s not easy to locate doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Casual sex can be enjoyed with anyone, but even with such low-standard relationships where you don’t care much those qualities are good to have. What if your sex partner lies about having STIs? Or start talking about your intercourse with anyone who would listen? You definitely do not need this in your life.
Loyalty & Commitment
Loyalty and commitment are also hard to find sometimes, but they’re crucial in romantic relationships. Loyalty manifests in many ways, not only fidelity but also having a partner who stands up for you and doesn’t tolerate when others badmouth you.
Having a man who is not afraid of commitment will also make your romantic life much happier and nicer. Imagine being with a person who is always on your side, wants to hear you out, and is ready to work on things and simply stick to you even when things get rough. Life changing!
Kindness & Empathy
Men are notorious for being overly emotional (yes, anger is an emotion) and having trouble empathizing with others. It is absolutely crucial to find a partner who is kind and is able to see the situation from other people’s perspectives.
If he’s not like that, he will eventually start treating you badly and hurting you, sometimes physically. That’s why those qualities are matters of life and death, and we’re not even being dramatic.
Confidence Without Arrogance
This last part is the cherry on top. Confidence without arrogance is sexy and one of the best man qualities out there. A man like that is self-assured and possesses the inner confidence that helps him navigate life gracefully. He doesn’t need to belittle others or prove anything to feel good about himself.
You’ll know a man has such confidence when you see how he talks about himself. He won’t have issues with talking about his weaknesses or sharing his failures because he knows he has worth and is valuable, and will eventually succeed with something else. He also won’t be caught bragging and exaggerating because there is simply no point in that. A true gem!
Good Traits in a Man That Women Appreciate
There are certain traits of a good man that women appreciate more than men.
Communication & Listening Skills
What is it about men that they are such terrible listeners and have horrible communication skills? Is it because they just don’t care about women? Or are many of them simply unable to be good communicators? Whatever it is, it is frustrating.
If you’re a man reading this article, know that by mastering communication skills and turning yourself into an attentive listener who actually wants to hear what the woman says and engages with this information, you’ll be ahead of the majority of singles out there.
Sense of Humor & Playfulness
Life is short but it’s also very long. Spending years with a dull person who can’t crack a joke and isn’t playful will bore you to death. Also, a good sense of humor and a positive approach to life is a must when something doesn’t go your way. It’s tricky to deal with hardships, but it’s unbearable when you’re sharing those bad moments with a Negative Nancy with zero humor.
Emotional Availability & Vulnerability
When women date men, they want to really date them, know them, understand them, and build a strong emotional bond with them. High-level chats and sex are fun and all that, but it takes an emotionally available and vulnerable guy to build a solid romance with. Men who refuse to open up will suck all your energy out, ruin your self-esteem and mental health, and leave you. Nobody should have to deal with that.
Characteristics of a Great Guy in Different Aspects of Life
If you’re looking for good qualities in a guy outside of romance, here are the key traits you can find in men who are your friends and family members.
A Good Man as a Friend
Friendships and romantic relationships are not that different. If you’re looking for a good man who can be your friend, many of the traits that you’ll want in your lover would also be in high demand for friends. The core characteristics to look for are loyalty, trustworthiness, honesty, empathy, and positivity.
A Good Man as a Family Member
If you’re trying to understand whether men in your family are good or not, look for the following characteristics: supportive and dependable nature, respect for others, responsibility and accountability, and good communication skills. A good man for the family is someone who’s protective but not controlling, someone who can be a positive role model, a peacemaker, and a kind soul.
How to Recognize a High-Quality Man in Dating
It’s not always easy to recognize a high-quality man in dating because a lot of low-quality guys will mimic the behavior of top men and fool women until they’re hooked.
When you just start seeing someone, it’s important to stay focused and not let the beautiful words and gestures make you blind to his red flags and bad sides. Also, if you know you’re prone to projecting on people, you can take things slow to have more breathing room and time to process your previous dates and interactions.
That way, you’ll kill two birds with one stone – you’ll make sure you actually like this person and not someone you imagine them to be, and you’ll filter out any guys with bad intentions who aren’t ready to pretend for long enough to get you. Talking about a win-win!
Red Flags vs. Green Flags in a Man’s Personality
Everyone will have their own sets of green and red flags, but some of them are undeniably fitting for everyone.
Green flags:
- Honesty
- Empathy
- Active listening
- Emotional maturity
- Accountability
Red flags:
- Mind games
- Dishonesty
- Disrespectfulness
- Manipulation
- Avoidant behavior
How to Attract a Good Man
If you want to attract a good man, you need to be a good person yourself.
Focus on self-improvement and working on your negative sides. Try to be more authentic, confident, curious, and kind. Identify your key relationship boundaries and don’t let people overstep them. Work on your passion projects, pursue hobbies, travel, make friends, and do other things that make your life full and positive.
Don’t stress too much about finding a good guy. Sure, you want to meet a great romantic partner, but make sure you put yourself and your life first, and you’ll meet him sooner or later.
Common Questions About Good Qualities in Men
What are the top qualities to look for in a man?
Among the top characteristics of a great guy, kindness, empathy, loyalty, support, and accountability are the ones to add to your must-have list. As long as he has integrity and is willing to be by your side and work on himself, everything else will work itself out.
How can you tell if a guy has good character?
There are many ways to spot a good guy. For example, his words and actions will match, he will be respectful to everyone around him, he won’t be cocky but show humility instead, and he’ll be empathetic. Those are all traits of a good man, but you can also tell if the guy by your side is good or not by how stressed and unsafe or relaxed and protected you feel next to him. This is something you experience on a subconscious level, something you might not even be able to verbalize.
Can a man develop these qualities over time?
Nothing is impossible, and sometimes inherently good people act badly because of trauma or difficult life situations. Once they “get back to normal”, and start to feel like themselves again, they will go back to exhibiting the good qualities they once had. However, if a grown man did not manage to become a good human being by now, it’s fairly unlikely that he will magically do a 180 one day and turn into Prince Charming.
