Here are some of the top mistakes managers make. These mistakes relate to our topic of discussion, focusing on relationships between managers and employees.

The first one is a very common one: Not establishing goals with plans to get there.  You cannot run a business without a goal. And you can’t make the goal without a plan to get there. That is probably the number one mistake you’re going to find in most management materials, not establishing goals and plans to get there.  A goal without a plan will result in you still looking at the goal when the year or specific period is over. he plan is like a roadmap.  As you journey from one place to another, there are landmarks, or milestones along the way.

  It may be a place to eat, a place to sleep, a stop for a rest at a park or viewing a mountain in the distance.  You need to go past each of them to get to your destination. The same is true for a business goal.  You need the milestones along the way confirm that you are moving in the right direction.

The second one is: Losing Focus.  Distraction is the enemy of success. Once you’ve made the plan, are you focusing on getting there? Or are you allowing yourself to become distracted? If you allow yourself to become distracted, you’re going to have a hard time reaching that goal and a hard time following the path to get there.  Distractions can be managed.  The hardest part is identifying them up front.  Here is one example.  Read your emails at set times during the day, not continually as the day progresses.  We all need times of focus to take our responsibilities to the next level.

Number three is: Failing to know employees. Managers who do not know their employees do not motivate them and will not get the best from them.  Periodically, I’m going to bring up a reference to parenting. If you’re a parent, you’ll be able to relate to this. If you’re not, think about your parents and their relationships to you.  I am not saying that you need to treat your employees like children. What I am saying is that it is very important for you to know your employees from the same perspective that parents know their children.  You need to know your employees so that you know what motivates them.  I will cover this in more detail in future posts.  You will be glad you did!