How to manage... NOT

Like many people I have worked for a variety of bosses from friendly to hateful, joking to always serious, the whole spectrum really. However, this post is more about what not to do as a manager.

1. Don't pretend to know something if you don't. By this I mean that you may be able to get away with a little BS to the people you report to but the guys that work for you will know in a heartbeat if you don't know what you are talking about. This definitely falls under the old rule of "it is better to keep quiet and be thought a fool rather than opening your mouth and removing all doubt".

2. Don't play silly games with time off. If you authorize a vacation day or just a day off then treat it as such. This means that unless the building is aflame or falling down leave the person alone. Nothing ruins your workers faith quicker than not letting them have time off to themselves and their family.

3. I understand that there are times when you have to work late to complete a necessary task. However, expecting someone to work late constantly or expecting 60 hours (or more) of work a week while only paying for forty is an insult and yet another way of ensuring that you are not going to be very popular.

4. Speaking of popular... while no-one wants to be hated you ARE the boss and it is not your job to be a buddy. It is your job to ensure that the necessary tasks are completed in a timely fashion.

5. One of the worst traits of a lackluster boss is their reluctance to back their employees. It is one of the few things that you are responsible for that you MUST do. If you do not back your employees to your bosses and other departments you are effectively cutting your own throat. I can guarantee that they will hang you out to dry at the worst possible time. This doesn't mean that you are protecting them when they are wrong, not at all. What this does mean is that you are in charge of your employees and you are responsible for what they do so you had better keep on top of things. Protecting them from people who want nothing more than to make you and yours look bad in front of senior management should go without saying.

6. Micromanagement, this should be a jailable offense. Nothing says I don't trust you better than micromanaging your employees. Give them tasks, give them guidance, answer their questions, hammer them if they do not complete their tasks on time, but never, never ever hover over them. They can either do the job or you should find jobs they can do or replace them.

I am sure that as time goes by I will find more bad management habits. I only hope that your bosses are smart and have already learned these valuable points.