Women in Management: Traps to Avoid
20 November 2012
Read by 2175 persons
Learn to identify behaviors that harm your credibility and favor those that highlight your strengths as a leader.
Avoid terms of endearment such as "my dears" or "kids". They're ridiculous and infantilize your colleagues. You're their boss, not their mother.
Also, avoid sentimentality or playing on people's emotions. It's exhausting for your employees, and they're not fooled. Conversely, don't be too distant. This could create misunderstandings; colleagues may wrongly think you're not committed enough or disinterested in a project.
Not everyone prioritizes work above all else. If a mother needs to leave to pick up a sick child, don't make a fuss, and be flexible.
Acknowledge that colleagues have lives outside of work. They don't have the same responsibilities or pay as you. While some are dedicated to their work, not everyone is. Scheduling meetings at 7 PM on Friday will make enemies.
Another trap: don't get involved in everything. You avoid risk, but you also risk letting conflicts fester. Assert authority when needed and intervene when internal tensions affect work.
Finally, an authoritarian management style isn't best. Don't make threats you can't carry out.
Plurielles.fr
Posted on November 20, 2012.
Avoid terms of endearment such as "my dears" or "kids". They're ridiculous and infantilize your colleagues. You're their boss, not their mother.
Also, avoid sentimentality or playing on people's emotions. It's exhausting for your employees, and they're not fooled. Conversely, don't be too distant. This could create misunderstandings; colleagues may wrongly think you're not committed enough or disinterested in a project.
Not everyone prioritizes work above all else. If a mother needs to leave to pick up a sick child, don't make a fuss, and be flexible.
Acknowledge that colleagues have lives outside of work. They don't have the same responsibilities or pay as you. While some are dedicated to their work, not everyone is. Scheduling meetings at 7 PM on Friday will make enemies.
Another trap: don't get involved in everything. You avoid risk, but you also risk letting conflicts fester. Assert authority when needed and intervene when internal tensions affect work.
Finally, an authoritarian management style isn't best. Don't make threats you can't carry out.
Plurielles.fr
Posted on November 20, 2012.
