Top executives like to take credit when things go well. But do they blame themselves enough when things go wrong? A key part of leadership involves realizing your own mistakes and taking the steps necessary to become a better manager.
According to one estimate, bad management costs U.S. corporations $360 billion a year. That’s right, more than a third of trillion dollars are lost each year from leadership mistakes. These figures include such items as productivity loss, high turnover costs, and healthcare expenses related to increased employee stress.
Clearly, bad management can undermine an organization in many ways at once. But how can you avoid such crucial errors? Here are a few common management mistakes you should avoid:
Micromanagement
Directing every moment of your employees’ days ultimately wastes time. You might think that you get a better end result. But, in the end, both productivity and team spirit suffer.
Making Friends with Employees
You want to respect your employees. You can even like them. But don’t mistake them for your buddies. That just complicates your job and ultimately leads to hard feelings down the road.
Not Setting Clear Goals
Your team works hard. To get the most out of that effort, it should be directed towards distinct objectives. If you don’t establish clear goals, you can’t get the most out of your workforce.
Not Sharing Strategic Visions
Think about the relationship with your staff as a partnership. In that paradigm, you encourage them to innovate and to be creative. By sharing your strategic vision, you engage your team more deeply in the process.
Letting Problems Fester
Being a manager is a busy job. Sometimes, if an issue doesn’t have a glaring “Fix me!” sign, it’s easy to let it slide.
But that’s a mistake. Small problems today can become major disruptions tomorrow. Don’t let small issues persist. Intervene as early as possible to avoid the necessity of even more aggressive steps down the road.
Not Doing Enough Contingency Planning
Fixing problems is part of a manager’s job. So is avoiding them entirely. Spend time trying to predict possible roadblocks and invest resources in planning workarounds. Then, if an emergency hits, you’ll have a detailed plan in place.
Not Delegating Enough
Turn over as many tasks as possible to your team. This will empower them and give you additional capacity for higher-level planning. Ultimately, everyone will get more done and you’ll use your available resources (including your own time) as wisely as possible.
Not Listening to Employees
Being a manager isn’t about giving orders. Sure, you have to direct your team. But the communication process should move in two directions.
Open yourself up to feedback from your staff. This way, your management skills can improve over time. You’ll also increase the chances of discovering game-changing ideas. At the same time, you’ll see more engaged employees and a tighter team spirit.
Becoming a good manager gets easier when you have the right team in place. A top staffing agency, like PrideStaff, can find you the perfect people for your organization.
Contact PrideStaff Bend today to upgrade your hiring process.
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