Can you guess some of the main mistakes new bosses make?
Bad managers can be devastating to the health of a company. Not only do they make their employees roll their eyes, but they can also stifle their growth and create a toxic work environment. But it’s hard to know when you’re doing it right.
Most mistakes are just a series of well-intentioned bad habits that can be fixed with a little practice and a lot of humility. Here are four mistakes that are easy to make when you become a boss.
Four Mistakes New Bosses Make
1. You don’t offer feedback
Feedback is a two-way street here. It’s important to offer feedback to your team so they can learn and grow and improve their performance. Be sure to provide advice and feedback that’s positive, constructive, and actionable. And don’t forget the praise, encouragement, and appreciation!
Perhaps equally important is the ability to receive feedback. Not only does soliciting feedback encourage innovation and crucial information sharing among your team, but it also shows them that you trust their judgment and respect their opinions.
2. You don’t delegate
Check your ego—you can’t do everything on your own. Your employees are the frontline of your company; they’re the experts on the ground, so trust them to take the reigns on specific tasks and projects. You’ll spare yourself some time and energy, and you’ll allow them the opportunity to learn and grow.
Remember that part of your job is to nurture the careers of your employees, develop their skills, and evolve into leaders.
3. You micromanage
When you give your employees ownership over their work and responsibilities, they’ll take it more seriously and take pride in it. But if you step in every few minutes and take over their duties, they’ll start to resent you and disengage from their work.
Why should they care if they’re doing an excellent job if they know you’re about to interfere and make all the decisions for them anyway? Trust that they know more than you do and acknowledge that they’re the experts.
4. You ignore problems
Whether they’re interpersonal disputes, discipline issues with struggling employees, or some other potential firestorm, it’s essential to address problems as soon as they pop up. If you don’t, they’ll grow and snowball until they can’t be ignored any longer, and they’re disrupting your business.
If you suspect this might be an issue for you, make a list of problems in your company—both big and small—and decide which are most urgent and need to be solved immediately.
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For more tips on managing your employees and inspiring them to work their hardest and power your company, contact us today!
