Tips to Avoid Abusing Your Power as a Manager
Power can make you blind. When you already have the chance to move up the corporate ladder and manage a team, it’s easy for you to be able to overwhelmed. As a result, you might abuse your power. You become the person you dislike. Before it happens, you have to remember these tips.
Always stay in touch with your employees
When you see your employees as people instead of robots, you will be more compassionate. You will treat them with respect. You will be gentle in giving tasks and not shout at them if they commit mistakes. Keep your doors open, literally. You might have a new office space now, but it doesn’t mean you will use it to be away from your employees. Allow them to come inside the office if they need help. Don’t be the type who will only speak with employees who have made appointments. Sure, you’re busy, but you can always have time for employees who need help.
Check the tasks you assign
Place yourself in the position of the employees. If you throw several tasks, is it fair? Would you finish the job yourself? If you say no, you should rethink your decision. You can’t force people to finish a task within a given time frame if you know it’s impossible. You can reassign some tasks or extend the deadline.
Remember your life before becoming a manager
Before you rose to power, you were like everyone else. The people you worked with might still be there, and are now your subordinates. You used to talk to them about your abusive managers. You know the type of manager that employees hate. Don’t be like one of them.
Realize that your position won’t be forever
The best way to keep yourself grounded is realizing that your position isn’t forever. You might be enjoying power now, but it can always go to someone else. If you failed to do your job, you might have to step down. You don’t want to work with people who now hate you. Regardless of where you are in the organization, you should stay humble.
Attend events when invited
Another way to see your employees as people is by getting to know their family members. It helps you understand them if they have issues at work. It doesn’t mean you will cover up for them all the time. The point is to see them as people with loving families. They also need a break. You can’t keep ordering them to do things they couldn’t do. You will also see their other side if you attend these events.
Hopefully, you realize that power isn’t something to abuse. The higher you go in the corporate ladder, the more grounded you become. There’s no need to strive to be liked by everyone. The point is that you should always treat people with respect. Once you start abusing your power, you have to rethink your leadership role.
Photo Attribution:
1st and featured image from https://unsplash.com/photos/VwsuhJ9uee4
2nd image from https://fitforwork.org/blog/keeping-in-contact-with-your-employees/
