3 Typical Misconceptions in Strategic Leadership

You'll soon find out, as a manager, that many people have preconceived notions about managers and their abilities. Managers, in their minds, can read minds and are flawless in every way (personality, skills, and experience included).

These are the kinds of incorrect assumptions that are being made. Managers are promoted because they have shown not only competence but also the desire and ability to improve their knowledge and abilities. No one is ever promoted to management and armed with an exhaustive understanding of the company's inner workings. Here are three myths about management that we hope to dispel.

All information is available to managers.

This is not the case, once again. Managers ask questions and try to learn as much as they can, but high-ups often have access to information that doesn't trickle down. Because of this, you and your team may find that you are doing work that isn't necessary but could have been avoided if someone had informed you of something you didn't know existed.

Supervisors' only job is to give tasks to their staff.

No one knows for sure where this misconception originated, but we can only hope it goes away quickly. Dissatisfied employees often complain about a manager who simply hands off tasks to his employees and then goes back to his office to relax with a cup of coffee and the newspaper. A good manager knows how to divide up tasks, delegating some while keeping others in-house. A good manager is always keeping busy, whether he is supervising his employees' work, completing his own tasks, or putting the project back together after its parts have been completed.

Mastering one's time is a crucial skill for any manager.

Contrary to popular belief, most managers are actually quite skilled at prioritizing their work. Despite managers’ having created a schedule for themselves, they may not have the authority to enforce it. Managers are constantly interrupted by employees, calls, emails, and the insistence of others that their work is more important. On a good day, we might find out that they completed 7 of 10 tasks, but on a bad day, we might find out that they completed zero. Managers face additional difficulties in managing their time efficiently due to the presence of their subordinates.

These misconceptions should be kept in mind as you field questions and feedback from superiors, peers, and employees throughout the day. Perhaps they have lofty expectations for you, even though you're doing the best you can given the circumstances.

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