The best EHS managers value and trust their employees. They make a point of ensuring their workers have everything they need to excel in their jobs and grow their careers.
However, there are several mistakes both new and experienced managers can make when it comes to leading their staff. Here are five common mistakes that many managers make that you should avoid:
1. They don’t provide clear direction to employees.
For employees to do their jobs well, it’s crucial for you to provide them with expectations and goals. Many managers don’t do this, and they wonder why their employees fail. They need direction on which tasks to prioritize, the performance metrics they should be meeting, and how you define success in their role.
2. They fail to get to know their staff.
Employees are happier and more productive when they know their manager cares about them as a person and not just the work they produce. You don’t have to know everything about them, but spend some time getting to know your team members and their interests that don’t necessarily relate to work. Ask employees how their weekend was or if they watched the football game the night before, for example. When you demonstrate that you care about them, you build trust with them and they are motivated to do better work.
3. They micromanage.
No one likes a manager who is constantly looking over their employees’ shoulders. Trust your staff members to get the work done and give them the autonomy to make decisions on their projects.
4. They don’t provide feedback to employees.
Feedback is critical to employees’ jobs. It lets them know what they’re doing well and the areas they need to improve in. Provide feedback to your workers on a regular basis to help guide them to success.
5. They fail to listen to their team members.
Managers who don’t listen to their staff tend to have an unproductive, disengaged team. Ask your employees for feedback on their jobs, the company, and how you’re performing as a manager. Practice active listening to signal to employees that you value their ideas and opinions.
When you implement good management practices on a regular basis, employee morale and productivity increases, and your team members are more likely to continue working for your company for the long term.
References:
20 Rookie Manager Mistakes You Want to Avoid, The Manager’s Resource Handbook, ManagersResourceHandbook.com.
Top 10 Mistakes Management Makes Managing People, Susan M. Heathfield, The Balance Careers.