Are you a good manager? Let’s find out.
Becoming a manager in any capacity is not just a step forward in your career it is a giant leap. After spending over a decade in the corporate industry as a people manager, I can cross my heart and say, I still have a long way to go. Life is all about continuous learning and improvements; if you believe you are the best version that there is, let me break it to you — You are not, in fact, no one is.
Here are a few traits that are not a reflection of a good manager.
Quick to blame
As a manager, you own the delivery output of your team. If something goes wrong, the team, your clients, and your leadership expect you to take ownership. If you throw your team member under the bus, you lose credibility as a leader in a situation like this. Good managers do not focus on the mistake; they channel their energy to focus on solving problems.
Show favoritism
Favoritism is one of the most frequently made mistakes by a manager. It is sad that employees know who will get promoted next or get fat bonuses in the annual appraisal because they are in the inner circle. It destroys team morale, your credibility as a leader and demerits those individuals who have succeeded based on their merit.
Lacking boundaries
Some manager takes approachability to the next level. They believe becoming a buddy of an employee is the holy grail to a trouble-free workspace. This is as far from the truth as it can be. I have observed managers who are too friendly and blindly disregard the boundaries and right to privacy of an employee. By doing so, you are breaking the chain of command. A healthy mutual relationship must be your goal.
Pride and prejudice
A leader must remain humble and always be ready to learn, even from an employee’s 2-year-old daughter. A know it all manager is all talks and no actions. These leaders are too proud to accept their mistakes and do not know how to react to constructive feedback or criticism. Employees highly respect managers who own up to their mistakes and acknowledge that they do not have all the answers.
Cannot delegate
As a manager, I have always taken pride in letting my team members take the lead. Delegation is the empowerment of the best and brightest talents. By not delegating, you are devoiding an employee to maximize their potential. Managers who fail to grasp the concept of delegation are never successful. They always fear losing the power game, while they fail to realize that power comes from the team.
Does not appreciate
People work for money, but they value recognition more than monetary compensation. When employees are not appreciated for their hard work, they feel ignored and taken for granted. A simple ‘thank you,’ ‘you did a great job’ goes a long way. Employees spend more than half of our lives at work, and it’s up to us to create an atmosphere where employees feel celebrated for their achievements.
This article is not an exhaustive list and neither it is to show people managers in a bad light. I am a people manager, and I understand the effort it takes to lead a large group of individuals where no two are similar. We must realize that we are people, people make mistakes, and that is ok. When you do make a mistake, accept it, own it, and learn from it.
Be a manager who is open to learning, takes ownership, accepts criticism, and works hard toward’s their teams’ success.
