The Top Ten Sins Most Managers Make and How To Avoid Them

We all start our management careers by making certain assumptions based on our perception of what a manager or leader should be, but we know our assumptions can be wrong. And I'm no exception. I'm guilty of committing each one of these ten sins at one time or another in my 40-plus year career as general manager for a major retailer, an award-winning entrepreneur and a college professor. You get to decide what kind of manager or leader you want to be. I hope you don't make the same mistakes I did.

1. There is no such thing as common sense. You should never rely on common sense as part of your training program. If you haven't taught someone how to complete a task the way you want it done, don't expect them to know how. Common sense is not common practice.
2. You can't motivate people to do anything they don't want to do. Motivation is inside out—never outside in. You can't motivate anyone to do anything they don't want to do. However, you can create an environment where they will want to motivate themselves by understanding what they want. If you help them get theirs, they will help you get yours.
3. You ruin good people by promoting them. Just because someone is good at what they do doesn't mean they will be good at something else. Only some have what it takes to be a manager or leader. Pick someone who loves being around and working with people.
4. You don't have to know everything. You don't have to have all the answers. But you do need to know where to go to find them. Always be honest and upfront. Don't make shit up.
5. You aren't the most important person in the conversation. If you can't convey your message in a way that others will understand, then whatever you say will mean absolutely nothing. Ask open-ended questions to ensure they have received the message as you intended.
6. Park your ego at the door; it's not about being right. You and I know there are several ways to accomplish the same task. Solicit their input and build collaborative teams. The more you allow them to be part of the process, the more likely they will want to participate.
7. You can't control everything all of the time. Your job as a manager or leader is to teach people what they need to know. You can only do that if you share some of your responsibilities with the people around you. If you don't delegate, you rob them of their growth opportunities. Resist the urge to micromanage.
8. You can't demand respect; respect is reciprocal. You have to give it to get it. Gaining their respect is a three-step process. First, you must build rapport and then develop a relationship, eventually leading to mutual respect. People won't trust anyone they don't respect first.
9. People hear what they see, not what you say. You must lead by example. It's not what you say that's important. It's how you go about doing it that matters most. If you look and act like one, people will think you're a pro.
10. There aren't any negatives; everything is positive. Your attitude is the only thing you can control 100 percent of the time. You get to decide how you want to react in any given situation. Bad things will happen. Learn the lesson and move on. People choose to follow winners, not whiners.

Copyright 2024. Brian Smith - Power Link Dynamics. Not to be reproduced without permission. Are you searching for a keynote speaker for your next event or planning an in-house training session? Brian works with people who want to learn how to communicate and interact more effectively, build collaborative teams or resolve conflict. He will customize a program that is right for you, your people and your organization. To learn more about Brian and what he can do for you, visit his website - https;//briansmithpld.com.