Three Worst Mistakes A First Time Manager Can Do

Although getting the managerial spot is great news, there are some things, serious things, which come with the promotion. Do not be among the many managers who find themselves managing a fast-food chain after graduating with a degree in accounting expecting to hire people and monitor the books, but end up dealing with teenagers handle their first job, calling employees who missed shifts and worse, mopping the floor late at night after rendering a 12-hour shift.

Some people get the managerial position by working their way up the ladder, while some gets the position in fancy paper. There are also some managers who assume the position out of need. But regardless of the reason, every manager has a huge responsibility on their shoulders. If you do not perform your job properly, your team and your company will suffer the consequences.

Here are three worst things that a first time manager can do.

Prioritizing tasks instead of people.

A regular employee is expected to do the task assigned to him within the set deadline and other requirements. Maybe you were once assigned to take care of advertising or to monitor the sales. However, now that you are manager, things are different – you are no longer bound to finish the tasks single-mindedly, but help your team carry out what they are expected to do the best way possible.

It is your responsibility as manager to ensure optimal output from your team. How good your team carries out their tasks will determine how good you are at managing people.

Talking more, listening less.

Any seasoned manager will tell you that the best way to run a team is by listening to them. You can try doing a listening tour during your first couple of days as manager. Go to lunch with a particular set of employees or have coffee with the departments and other key personnel. Find out what matters to whom, who needs what, and how to help who.

The only way you will know what somebody needs is by hearing him talk. Besides, nothing is more annoying than a new manager who talks a lot and never listens.

Delegating tasks without knowing employee capability.

This is perhaps the most common mistake that all first time managers commit almost all the time. This leads to one of two things: one, the task gets done but with poor quality; or two, nothing gets done at all – either way is bad news for you and your team.

That is why you need to evaluate the skills and the capabilities of your employees first. You have to evaluate their weaknesses and strengths first so that you will know what nature of tasks they can handle.

Using an LMS is a great way to do training and at a low cost. Choose one that has robust features and is easy to set up and use