Employees on an almost daily basis complain about their managers, especially if they’re new. So, in order to be a manager and a good one too, you have to learn many managerial skills. Being promoted to a manager is a huge step in everyone’s career; but before you start the new phase of your career life, you have to know how to deal with your new team.
So, if you’re a new manager, here are the mistakes you should avoid when you start your position.
1- Being Firm and Strict All The Time
Some managers think that to gain employees’ respect you have to be firm.
Being firm has nothing to do with gaining your employees’ respect; in fact, you will be scaring them off! As a manager, the worst thing you can do is scaring off your employees! This will make you fail as a manager and will give you a bad reputation.
What you should do is making your employees feel that your door is always open for any question and that they should feel comfortable with asking you anything regarding work.
2- Not Being Friends With Your Team
Not being friends with your team or employees is one of the worst mistakes!
When you don’t be friends with your team, you won’t be able to build a strong relationship with them. Therefore, you won’t gain their loyalty.
So, being friends is required so you all can work together and succeed as one family.
3- Being Over-Friendly
You have to tell the difference between being friends and being over-friendly!
You have to be friends with your team but don’t be over-friendly. We mean by over-friendly is that you shouldn’t interfere in their personal lives or ask about details that are not work-related. Keep your limits and just stick to being their work colleague and friendly manager.
4- Focusing on The Team’s Weaknesses
Pointing out your team’s weaknesses all the time will not make you an expert.
If your employees have weaknesses then the only reason to point them out is that you want them to get better; also, make sure you mention their strengths as well. Don’t make your team feel that it’s an epic fail!
You have to encourage the team members to perform better. Remember, you’re there to encourage them and teach them not to bring them down.
5- Managers Should Be Busy 24/7
Some managers think that being busy all the time will make them look good.
Being busy all the time doesn’t mean that you’re doing a good job and that you’re putting work as a priority! If you made yourself look busy just so your employees know you’re doing all the work, this would push them away.
They will feel that you don’t have time for them, when in fact, having the time for your team makes you a good manager.
6- Focusing on Every Single Detail
You don’t have to know every little detail to be involved.
Every employee has their own way of doing their tasks that you don’t have to know about. You can be involved by following up and giving feedback. But knowing every little detail won’t make you involved; in fact, it might waste time.
7- Micromanage
Let your employees do their jobs their own way, not yours.
You have to tell the difference between assigning someone work and making them do the task the way you do. As we mentioned above, each employee has their own way of doing their task, let them do it. If you made your employee do a task your way, you will be pressuring them and micromanaging them.
This won’t enhance the team’s performance and it will suppress their creativity.
8- Overly Trusting and Not Trusting Your Employees
Balance your trust in your employees.
You should trust your employees and listen to their opinions, but remember, you’re the one with the better experience. So, avoid trusting blindly; some employees might have the right opinion while others won’t. So, you’ll be making the right decision.
Also, don’t be always skeptical! If you’re a good manager then you know you gained your employees’ loyalty and trust, so you have to give them the same.
It’s all about balance.
9- Being Mr. Knows It All
Some managers think they have to know everything about anything!
It’s ok to ask questions and it’s ok not to know some stuff! Asking questions will add to your experience and this is how you will learn and gain more skills. Even when you own your business, you won’t stop learning.
So, you don’t have to know everything and this is ok.
In the end, you don’t want to be one of those managers who make their employees hate their jobs. So, always work on yourself to be an inspiration to your team.
