Six Manager Slip-ups & How to Fix Them

1.    SLIP-UP: Meet sporadically, or not at all for one-on-one communication with team members. FIX: Consistent meetings give each team member goals to work toward and deadlines to meet, keeping them motivated and on task.

2.    SLIP-UP: Always develop their own ideas and strategies without ever asking team members to provide input or allow them to be part of the discussion. FIX: Seek input and creativity from team members. Let them contribute and they will be more invested in projects and outcomes.  3.    SLIP-UP: Fail to clearly communicate what they expect of their team members; leaving them to wonder what is most important, what they should be working on or where their priorities lie. FIX: Set crystal clear expectations with team members so they know at all times exactly what is expected of them, and how to set themselves up for success.

4.    SLIP-UP: Fail to monitor team member’s work and give feedback on it. FIX: Stay in contact with team members on projects and deadlines and give them feedback on how they can improve their performance. Inspect what you expect.

5.    SLIP-UP: Provide feedback in a destructive way by criticizing, insulting or micromanaging. FIX: Give feedback that is goal-oriented, constructive, corrective and appreciative.

6.    SLIP-UP: Neglecting to transfer acquired skills to their team and trying to do everything themselves.   FIX: Train team members in skills and strategies so they can be better equipped for success and improve their performance.

Learning to March in April

Every soldier and high school band member learns to march. You start off on the right foot and focus on putting it down on the beat to keep leading you onward. The left foot will fall into place, often without really knowing how it got there.

Can you do the same? Can you focus on what is right and positive instead of getting caught up in what is wrong? It certainly is not easy, especially if those surrounding you are doing the opposite.

There are three little ways to achieve this lofty goal. And the littlest things make the biggest difference.

1. Be grateful. Negative events loom large unless you consciously balance them out. To help your brain store positive events, reflect on what you're grateful for and why, at least once a week. Write down your blessings, such as the opportunity to pursue a career you love or a family that supports you. If you prefer to do it daily then keep a log or discuss it with your family over dinner.

2. Coach yourself positive. It’s a proven fact the more often you hear a message, the more likely you are to believe it. The same goes for messages about who you are and what you are capable of doing. Repeating positive affirmations out loud or to yourself makes them more real.

Some examples: “I can handle whatever comes my way,”, “There is plenty of time,” or “I'm getting better every day.”

3. Challenge negative thoughts. Every time something negative comes up, we make a choice with our response. Our brains might like to dwell on the negativity and make it seem bigger or more significant than it really is. Separate yourself from those negative thoughts by looking at them and finding a way to grow from them.

If you have a complaint, meet it with at least two solutions for the problem.

Starting and ending on the right foot can keep the whole day in step. 

Going Nowhere?

My wife, Sarah, our son, Bryan and I welcomed a new baby into our family in January. Charles William (Charlie) is now three months old and sleeping through the night! The rocking chair in our house is getting some use again, and it reminds me of one of my favorite analogies. Rocking chairs are great for babies because you can just sit and rock as long as you want, right there in the nursery. But, you certainly don’t want to spend your career, or your life in rocking chair mode…moving, but going nowhere. What action can you take today that will move you forward? Even if you only move an inch, that’s better than standing still. Can you spend less money? Can you save more? Can you tell someone you care about how much they mean to you? Can you read something that will broaden your mind? Can you do something for someone else? I learned years ago two things which keep people from taking action – fear of failure and fear of people. Failure isn’t the end of the world. In fact, many great leaders have failed, and said those who haven’t, simply haven’t tried anything new. You might do something wrong, you might have to start over, but action creates progress. Either you gain momentum from your actions or you learn from them what to do and what not to do. If you want to start a new business, go back to school or make a relationship stronger, make a plan and start now. You might think it will take years to make any progress, and it might. But if you don’t get started then in 3-5 years you will still be where you are now instead of being where you want to be. You’ll be looking back wishing you would have done something different. As for the fear of people – or more pointedly fear of what people think. Eleanor Roosevelt said it best. “You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.” Today is the only day that you have, yesterday is gone, tomorrow isn’t here yet! We would love to hear from you. Email us at info@chadcarden.com and tell us: What is one thing (professionally or personally) you would like to improve about yourself? Would you rather learn something new in a face-to-face setting or via video in the comfort of your home or office? When should we start Charlie on solid food?... Just checking! See our CREDENTIALS!