Since business began managers have been trying to perfect their skills. There are several topics, which will be discussed here, that if avoided will keep you safe. These pitfalls will spin your career out of control. If you find yourself violating these simple rules you will certainly pay the price and may even be eliminated.
Do you expect your workers to be on time? Of course you do. So you better be on time or even early yourself. The last thing you want to do is establish a double standard where you expect them to be on time but it is acceptable for you because you’re the boss. Your employees don’t see it this way. Get to work early and it will be like you never left when your employees get to work.
Secondly, keep your relationships with your employees or followers on a professional level. If you end up in the middle of shop drama it should be from the perspective of squelching it. Not a participant in it. If you want to loose the respect of your followers or employees get caught in the middle of a scandal. It goes without saying you could lose your job over this one.
Thirdly, lead by example. Never ask an employee to do something that you wouldn’t do yourself. Laws will cover many of these pitfalls but there are many opportunities to ask someone to do something unreasonable if it means increasing production.
The next tip is probably one of the toughest. Your integrity is at stake. Your boss has asked you to carry out an order which you deem inappropriate, immoral, illegal etc. You want to please your boss but you know you will never be able to sell this to your employee. In fact, its just plain wrong. Make the choice now to protect your integrity. You can say no. Yes. You may get fired but it is the right thing to do. Especially if your action would bring on an onslaught of legal issues. Even though your boss told you to do it, you may still be held liable.
Don’t be a yes man! Tell your boss why you think what he is asking you to do is unreasonable. If he insists, you have the option of carrying out the order or declining the request. It is hard to argue how doing the wrong thing is the right thing.
The last biggie is attitude. Muster up a good attitude every day and it will carry you a long way. Fight the distractions that take you away from getting your job done. Keep measuring what you have and bounce that off of what you need to do. Making an assessment everyday is the key to catching areas needing attention.
Put you best foot forward every day. Do not compromise what you know a good leader to be. Do what is right day everyday. Respect must be earned. It is not something you get when you pick up your ID badge. Avoid the pitfalls discussed in this article and you will have a better chance at a long productive career as a manager.
Managers, check out these articles There are thousands of management resources and related information in this directory.
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Fri, Aug 13, 2010
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