Management isn’t easy: accepting that you don’t have all the answers, and being prepared to work on developing yourself is the springboard to greater success for you and your team.
Here are the top 5 traps that new managers should avoid:
1. Micromanaging
New managers often feel that they need to control every detail. Maybe they’ve stepped up from “doing the doing” in a production or sales role to a position in which a team reports to them. Micromanaging your team can stifle creativity and productivity, and lead to reduced morale.
The Solution? Learn the art of empowering people through effective delegation. Trust them to perform while holding them accountable for achieving results that they themselves have bought into achieving. Don’t be afraid to let go – I often hear people say “I’ve found hours of extra time every week because I’ve learned to delegate – and guess what, they do the job better than I did!”
2. Poor Communication
George Bernard Shaw said, “The greatest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place”. Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings, inefficiencies and low morale. Managers need to ensure that open, honest dialogue is encouraged.
The Solution?: Running meetings well, giving regular feedback, and sensitivity to how different individuals give and receive information are skills all managers need to hone.
3. Neglecting Employee Development
Managers need to focus on and invest in the growth of their team members. Failure to do this leads to low morale and high staff turnover. And it will be the good people who leave first!
The solution? Training and coaching shouldn’t be seen as discretionary spending or “nice to haves”. Instead, they should be seen as necessities for a high-performing team and a successful organization.
4. Ignoring Feedback
Not listening to feedback from colleagues can create a toxic work environment. Instead, ensure that your people know that their feedback is valued AND ACTED UPON.
The Solution: Anonymous surveys and suggestion schemes can help, but the key to success is to foster a coaching culture in the organization. Coach/Coachee relationships invariably work better than Boss/Subordinate relationships.
5 Lack of Strategic Vision
New managers may focus too much on the day-to-day, neglecting the medium to long-term.
The Solution: Develop a strategic plan including a clear vision, clear objectives, key performance indicators, and a means of ensuring accountability. Review and adjust as time goes on. Spending time working on the business as well as in the business is vital.
If you’re a newly-promoted manager, or someone who has never had any formal management training, the Step into Management Programme will provide you with the tools to help you avoid falling into these and the many other traps managers fall into. If you are interested, please download our brochure here and sign up for a £500 discount before 5th August.