MightyRecruiterWorst Manager, Best Boss: What Businesses Can Do to Build Leaders
Some people get into leadership positions when they simply do not have the skills to lead effectively. As the employer, you might have various managers working underneath you to oversee some of the individual departments of the company. An employee working with the worst manager is likely to not be as productive and may eventually quit out of frustration. It is crucial to understand what makes a great leader so that you can enhance productivity while minimalizing high turnover rates.
How Do Bad Managers Even Exist
Not everyone is fit to be a good manager. This is a somewhat disheartening truth that employers need to realize when they are looking for a good manager. Many companies hire managers from within, and a manager often starts as a low-level employee who does good work, and as a result, he or she gets promoted. However, just because someone did good work in one position does not necessarily mean they will be just as good in this new role. You may end up with the absolute worst manager because you did not give him or her the tools needed to succeed. While many workers think of managers as inherently being bad, there is a lot you can do to find someone who would be a terrible manager but a great leader.
The Worst Characteristics
There are a lot of terrible actions you should watch out for in your managers. One of the most common is the tendency to micromanage. This is not a helpful trait for anyone because your manager is spending time that could be utilized elsewhere, and your employees are not learning anything new because their hand is being held throughout every endeavor. Something else to watch out for is that the worst manager will often fire and hire people for completely counterproductive reasons. If you give someone the power to make employment decisions, then a bad manager may fire someone for some minor slight. Conversely, they may hire someone for a trivial reason that has nothing to do about the job at hand.
Bad managers also control those beneath them through intimidation and fear. They may threaten employees to accomplish something within a certain time frame or else employment will be terminated. Your lower level workers may get the job done, but they will likely look for a job somewhere else if it means they can avoid constantly being in a state of panic. Terrible managers also take credit for other people’s work. Virtually anything accomplished is the result of a team effort to some capacity, but the worst manager will simply say that he or she did it all.
The Best Characteristics
Instead of trying to find the best manager among your workforce, you should look for someone who possesses the qualities to be an outstanding leader. There are certain qualities you should definitely instill within your company’s leaders, including:
-The ability to understand that everyone matters. All of your employees are individuals who have families and interests outside of the workplace. A great leader cares about everyone equally and will have their back should something come up.
-Not having as many meetings. Every time when you need to talk to a group of people, your speech should have a clear focus. You should also get straight to the point rather than meander around.
-Give credit. If one of your subordinates has accomplished something fantastic, then make sure he or she gets the credit.
-Being trustworthy. No one likes being micromanaged, so ultimately, a good leader needs to know how to step back and trust that others will get the job done without assistance.
-Encourage risks. Many workers are hesitant to take risks because they do not want to be chewed out for failing. While you want to avoid catastrophic failures, a good leader should encourage people to pursue unique ideas and to learn from their mistakes.
-Allow people to follow their own ideas. While you should provide a basic outline of where the company needs to head, you can still let your workers decide how exactly they reach that goal.
-Help everyone. Too many people are focused on advancing their own careers that they do not consider how they can help other people achieve their own goals. A good leader makes sure that everyone has the tools they need to reach their dreams.
Avoid employing the worst manager by looking for the best leader. Other tips on effective leadership methods can be found by looking through other Mighty Recruiter resources.