Mistakes Managers Make – You Need to Avoid

Managers are often the most passed over positions in any company.  Why?  Because managers are often misunderstood.  Employees look at managers as the people that are there to make their life difficult.  It is not easy being a manager, and in fact takes someone with a special skill set to be a great manager.

Whether you are currently a manager or thinking about becoming a manager, you must know that managers make mistakes.  You are not only in your job to manage the workflow, but you are there to manage the people around you.  This can be messy if not handled properly.  Here are some of the most common mistakes made by managers that drive their employee’s crazy – try to avoid these at all costs:

• Know everyone on your team!  Yes, that means their name, their title, and maybe even something personal about their life outside of work.  When you get to know your employees, they will feel like you are invested in them, since you took the time to get to know them.
• Pay close attention to who you assign work to.  Nothing upsets an employee more than realizing that they were given an assignment that was also given to a co-worker.  They will feel like they have wasted time on the assignment and will be very upset with the manager for not realizing this.
• Show appreciation when it is warranted.  Bringing you a bagel and coffee for a meeting does deserve a thank you, but more appreciation must be shown to the worker who stayed late to meet a deadline.  The employee will under-perform with no appreciation shown for being a team player and getting the project done.
• Do not claim to have an open door policy and then not allow your employees to come to you.  This will upset your employees and make them feel like you really do not care.  They need to feel like they can come to you for anything and that you will listen and hear them.
• Always follow through on everything you tell your employees.  If you promise to discuss vending machines for the break room with the owner, make sure you do.  Do it timely and always inform your employees of the decision.  This will make them feel that you are willing to go to bat for them and in turn, they will do the same for you.
• Be consistent.  The number one complaint among employees about their managers, is that their manager is not consistent.  They treat one employee differently than the rest, for whatever reason.  You must be consistent with every employee on your team.

As a manager, you are under scrutiny for all of your actions.  Make sure that you behave and carry yourself in the same manner you expect from your employees.  Be a good mentor to your staff, avoid the mistakes mentioned, and you will find that your staff will give you 150%, just as you would for them.

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