Being a manager is a challenging role to take on. Everyone makes mistakes, but as a manager, they don’t just impact you, they also impact your team.
Managers have to know how to be good leaders and inspire their teams to do good work. Mistakes aren’t a big deal, as long as you are willing to learn from them and change your ways. One big responsibility of a manager is to continue to learn and develop your skills. The best way to do this is to learn the biggest mistakes that are common to managers, so you can adapt your ways and avoid them. This will help you be a better and stronger leader.
To help you on your management journey, here are some of the top mistakes you should be aware of.
Micromanaging your team
Micromanaging your team refers to a manager who likes to control all parts of the team and their activities. It can be difficult at first if you are promoted to manager from a position within the team, as you are going to be well versed in the activities that need to be completed. But you need to learn how to switch from a doing role to a leading role. This moves you away from paying close attention to the activities, and instead, being there to guide your team to success. Micromanaging can be disruptive and frustrating, which is the last thing you want.
Managing your team should be a fine balance between helping your team, and trusting them to get on with tasks.
Not mentoring your team
As a leader of a team, you must mentor your team and help them progress. You have to remember that every team member is crucial to your success and the success of your business. The big mistake managers make is not connecting with their team and helping them tap into their potential. This can slow down, or even stunt the progress of your success and the common goals that your team is working towards.
Instead, you should develop and mentor your team, so they can learn and progress faster within their role. Help them to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and guide them to making improvements and becoming better at their role. For more tips on being a good mentor, follow Jozef Opdeweegh.
Not setting goals
One of the biggest mistakes managers make is not defining any goals. Goals are vital for any team, as they guide the members to undertake the right tasks and motivate them to work hard. Everyone must know what they are working towards, how they can contribute in their own way, and what work they should prioritize. Without clearly defined goals, you may find your team is unable to collaborate and communicate effectively, they become stressed and confused, and there is a lack of efficiency in the workplace.
Managers play a vital role in any business. Make sure you avoid these top mistakes so you can become a better manager.
