Mind Tools lists 10 of the most common leadership and management errors.
1. Lack of Feedback
2. Not Making Time for Your Team
3. Being Too “Hands-Off”
4. Being Too Friendly
5. Failing to Define Goals
6. Misunderstanding Motivation
7. Hurrying Recruitment
8. Not “Walking the Talk”
9. Not Delegating
10. Misunderstanding Your Role
If you want to know more on what you can do to avoid them read the full article.
Ok, agreed, management skills have to be learnt and honed but I don’t believe they can be taught via a list of do’s and don’ts. The truly great leaders and managers have probably become so only by experience and through having made mistakes. These personal hurdles cannot be recycled to try and help others have an easier ride up the corporate ladder…everyone must confront their own and grow accordingly.
My personal experience, for what it’s worth. I started working at 16 years of age, by 18 I was a manager but not through training (even though I participated in training seminars) but by making and breaking each and every of the 10 rules listed in the article. Even if I had had that list tattooed on my forehead it would have been impossible to follow. On paper it looks good but in the cruel and frenzied reality of the workplace you don’t have time to analyze your behaviour. Then you have to consider the people you work with, coming from all walks of life, each with their own peculiar and individual way of working. No, a list would have been useless; it was falling into those “potholes” that made me learn how to work with people and get the job done well and quickly. My only self-made rules were: 1. Treat others the way I want to be treated, 2) Lead by example, if I did some overtime I didn’t oblige anyone to do it as well, people would instinctively volunteer if you have their respect. 3) Be the first to rollup your sleeves and you’ll soon have an army of colleagues do the same…it’s about TEAMWORK not hierarchy. Rank works in the military not in other public sectors and especially not in private enterprises. Again, not hard and fast rules that anyone can learn on paper and apply in the real world so take it for what it’s worth…go forth and figure out your own rules and if the job is done and everyone is happy then you will have your own personal list ingrained in your mind for future reference.
Sorry for the rant, just my two cents.
Reblogged this on ISDI Learning Corner.