From the article: Top 10 New Manager Mistakes
Do you think this list of the Top 10 Mistakes Managers Make includes everything? Or is there something missing? If you think the list should include something not already in the Top 10 List add your 11th here. Add A Different Mistake
Be who you need to be
- The most important rule for new managers is to be flexible, but to operate within boundaries. Obviously, boundaries such as company policy and law need to be adhered to. However, as a manager you need to position yourself to be exactly who you need to be, where you need to be, when you need to be there. By mastering the ability to be simultaneously sympathetic and firm, and by mastering your ability to simultaneously praise progress while acknowledging that there is much more work to be done, you will gain the confidence of your employees. By interacting with each in a way that is favorable to them, you will coax more performance and discretionary effort out of them. By showing that you are a collaborator and a commander, you will deliver a higher quality output to more customers and gain a reputation among your peers and superiors as a person who gets things done.
- —Guest Jim
Over bearing
- Take full ownership of your new duties, the good with the bad. If you're mistaken don't make your worker pay the price. Many workers will remember this and sink you for it at the worst time! ie: sabotage an important account, lose time critical papers or worse( I've done this one) get a temp restraining order against you.
- —Guest Thomas the smith
Partiality towards an employee or few
- Managers need to give equal opportunity to all employees. Showering special interest towards one or more does neither earn any respect to the manager nor result in higher productivity. Disrespecting and not treating all team members equally could lead to bigger problems with the team and could lead to losing the team members entirely. After all no employee is at the mercy of any employer/manager today.
- —Guest Skeets
Align your self too soon.
- Aligning yourself with people in your new department prematurely can cause you to chose wrongly. Settling in slowly, observing the players, and understanding where the unofficial pockets of power are is important to your being accepted by your new staff. Aligning yourself with a secret bully or office gossip will hurt your reputation and the assumption will be that you have poor judgment,
- —Guest Question #12
Disrespect the history of the department
- Showing disregard for the history of your new department can be perceived as disrespectful to the former manager. When you are not aware of the regard others had for him/her and do not honor them you can sabotage your own credibility.
- —Guest Question #11
Supply Chain Manager
- CHANGES TAKE TIME, PATIENCE IS IMPORTANT Improvements are usually a result of a change or improvement. Often managers get targets and need to react quickly to get results. Talk about the targets with employees, actions that are necessary and ask what they think they can do to meet the target. Then be patient, there is nothing worse than a manager breathing down your neck every day to see how it's improving when it is a long process. Managers should also learn to manage those expectations with their managers to set the proper pace for success.
- —Guest S Chalmers
Ignore the "little things"
- "Little" or "small" things, when added together become big things. When an employee comes to you with something "small", chances are its not small to them. And, chances are if it is "small" it won't take much effort on your part to solve the issue, so deal with it immediately or asap. Your staff will see you care about them, their motivation to work for you will be solid, and I bet the organisation benefits also.
- —Guest Lance
Dont talk much rather listen
- Some managers turn to be preachers to others. This habit exposes ones weaknesses easily. A good manager listen to his/her team and be the last to comment because in most cases the managers opinion is considered final, therefore don't adjourn the meeting before benefiting from other peoples' opinion.
- —Guest Maroka
Boss, rather than Ddlegate
- New managers usually get their new position because they oozed confidence and could boss others around, not by being an excellent worker. One should not "boss" around the employees but rather give them the instructions they need to do their job and leave it at that. Skilled employees do not need extra instructions because they know the job like the back of their hand. They absolutely loathe it when some know-it-all rookie manager thinks they should do their job differently, when they've been doing it right for years.
- —Guest Oliver
Be Professional
- I think that managers need to remember to be professional. Some managers make the mistake of getting angry when there is no need. There will be times when the employees get upset and try to challenge your decisions. Once you have given a directive and you know it is right, stick to it. If you change your mind too many times, people may lose respect for you and your decisions.
- —Guest Shari S.
Know the names
- Manager should know the names of all the employees working under him. Nothing makes a person more happy than being called by his boss using his name
- —Guest Venkatesan
mistake: destroy work-life balance
- A new, energetic manager determined to be no. 1 might work so hard in the beginning that his/her decision making capabilities suffer. NYMS - keep a clear mind...
- —wdywft
It's hard to please them all
- Do not go in thinking you can please everyone, you will be their friend today and later they will turn on you. Do the best you can be professional and never let your guard down, don't ever let them see you crash under pressure.
- —Guest Agnes Jolly
' I ' v/s ' WE '
- Some, so called Manager use 'I' in places where 'WE' is appropriate. Basically 'I' denotes the arrogant attitude where as 'WE' generous one, thus 'WE' indicates Subordinates importance.
- —Guest Mustafa C Abdulla
I disagree with Ralph
- Respect is not earned through your promotion, but usually via working for it. Don't expect your employeees to respect you just because you are the boss. Cause when they are to overthrow you they won't even blink twice when they pass you in the streets. Understand YOUR responsiblities as a MANANGER, otherwise your subordinates will be upset at every turn for having to do your job and theirs and yet not getting the title or the pay to go with it.
- —Guest serena
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