101: AVOIDING PITFALLS
There are some common missteps that managers — especially new managers — are prone to make. But the wisdom of those who have gone before you can prove to be valuable advice as you lead teams toward achieving company goals. Though management styles and company cultures differ, some rules ring true and, even if you've heard them before, bear repeating. Here are three pitfalls to avoid as you manage employees:
Taking on too much yourself. Don't do it. This advice is especially true for new managers. Remember that some of your time will be taken up managing people. So your previous productivity in other realms may not be what it once was. You're still an employee, but you're also a manager. “Learning how to balance these two roles takes time, so you should be aware of the issue and know when to say 'no' to new projects or unreasonable deadlines,” writes Lindsey Sparks in an article at RefreshLeadership.com. Some of your day will, inevitably, be eaten up with emails, meetings and phone calls.
Not delivering feedback. Employees need your guidance much more often than at annual review time. Not doing that hinders their ability to improve, notes an article at MindTools.com. And plenty of managers are guilty, according to the article: “According to 1,400 executives polled by The Ken Blanchard Companies, failing to provide feedback is the most common mistake that leaders make,” it states. Learn how to provide it effectively.
Not explaining things clearly. It's not reasonable to expect employees to work blindly on tasks when they don't get an overview of the broader goal, says an article at AllBusiness.com. “The more invested your team is in a project, the better the results will be,” it states, as employees truly feel like part of the effort and part of the solution. Be sure to detail how the project fits into the company's overall goals — so everyone is truly on board.
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