You Must Be Mistaken: Common Managerial Mistakes

by | Dec 27, 2012 | Blog

  • Amy Newbanks Letke, SPHR, GPHR, is the Founder of Integrity HR, Inc. Amy provides workplace solutions to improve performance, reduce liability and increase profits. She is passionate about helping other entrepreneurs and business owners achieve success. Contact us for more insights - 502-753-0970 or info@integrityhr.com

Managing a workforce, while rewarding, is full of strife and endless challenges.

Managers must maintain a difficult balance of stern authority and approachable geniality. Executive chairman and founder of GoDaddy, Bob Parsons, knows a thing or two about successfully running a company. Following his management advice in proper delegation, pinpoint focus, avoiding intrusive phone calls and other tips are vital for managerial success. To succeed as a leader of business, you must learn what does not work, to learn what does.

Wasting Time

It’s inevitable: a deluge of distractions from phone calls, small talk chatter, social media and emails will be the bane of your workday. The temptation to engage in conversation with friends, perhaps catch up on the news or tackle personal affairs are all too easy to lapse into thereby sacrificing precious work time. A clear focus and self-discipline can push time-wasters out the way

This doesn’t mean that transforming yourself into a corporate dynamo is necessary, or even advantageous, to the company. Intermittent breaks are of equal importance to prime productivity.

When You Want Work Done Right, Do it Yourself

This is a common misconception (even if you believe it to be true). Adherents to this belief will end up taking on massive workloads and effectively defeat the purpose of their managerial position. Don’t wait until you’re so flooded with work to delegate tasks to employees; delegation should be a continuous process. The act of handing out work is only the first step. Be accountable and follow through after delegating to ensure that the task is completed in a timely manner

Ambiguity

Managers should absolutely not “beat around the bush,” as they say. Clearly articulate expectations to workers. Be blunt and straightforward so that the possibility for misinterpretation or confusion will not occur. Achieving clarity in all communications with employees is the first step in ensuring a smooth operation.

Stagnancy

Part of your job as a manager is to adapt to the changing work environment to provide continual leadership. What worked for the office a year ago, or even a few months ago, may have now lost effectiveness. This is especially true in a startup company. Keeping abreast of modern business practices and innovations in technology will enable those who want to follow in the footsteps of business leaders like Parsons to further evolve the business and themselves. A commitment to the company and self-improvement is crucial as a manager.

Long Meetings

Nothing is less conducive to productivity than lengthy, drawn-out meetings. Managers must maintain a strict time limit on meetings to keep conversation condensed and relevant to the topic at hand—keep the meeting from veering off subject. Ask yourself if a meeting is even necessary. Perhaps whatever issue or new information you have can be shared via email.

The short meeting rule also includes business lunches. They mostly waste time and reduce what could have been a more fruitful day. Once in a while, lunching with coworkers is beneficial to inspire camaraderie, but it should not happen often.

Guest post by Catherine Joyner
A former athlete, Catherine launched her start-up late in the game. She loves that she can share with others how she climbed the ladder of success and suffered a few stumbles along the way, so others can benefit from her learning experience.

 

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