If you’re a manager or supervisor here are some more basic mistakes to avoid.

Hurrying Recruitment

When it’s time to hire someone, and you need that person on board sooner rather than later, if you’re not careful, you can rush into a recruitment that you later greatly regret. I know, because I’ve done it. I can recall times when I saw in a prospective employee what I wanted to see in that person, instead of realistically assessing their skills. Then very soon that person had to be let go, with a lot of grief for that person and a lot of wasted time and money for me and my organization.

If you’re not particularly good at the hiring process, get help from someone who is. That’s a lesson I have finally learned. Proverbs 11:14 tells us: For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers. A smart manager recognizes his or her own areas of weakness or incompetence or lack of experience and looks for help there.

Not "Walking the Talk"

Years ago I was hired to do some customer service training for a large company. The manager wanted his people to have consistently good telephone skills because most of their contact with their customers was by phone, so this was important. But I noticed that this manager’s telephone manners were the worst! When I suggested that it would make a big difference to his employees if they saw that he was changing his bad habits, he just laughed and said that he had been that way for years and he wasn’t about to change now. Well, I knew that my training would have limited success if the employees didn’t see him walk the talk.

As Christ-followers, it is even more important that we walk the talk. I often think of this verse from 2 Corinthians 8:21: For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. Remember, you can’t expect your employees to have a better work ethic than you do.

And one more thing: your attitude matters. I always say that managers don’t have the luxury to be in a bad mood, because your attitude—more than anyone else’s—is contagious and when your attitude is negative, it will spread like wildfire through the whole team.

If you’re a manager or supervisor here are some more basic mistakes to avoid. Hurrying Recruitment When it’s time to hire someone, and you need that person on board sooner rather than later, if you’re not careful, you can rush...

The better job we do as managers, the better those on our team will perform. So, here are three more mistakes to avoid. Being Too “Hands-Off” Have you ever had this happen: One of your employees completes an important project,...

The better job we do as managers, the better those on our team will perform. So, here are three more mistakes to avoid.

Being Too "Hands-Off"

Have you ever had this happen: One of your employees completes an important project, but you discover too late that this person misunderstood exactly what to do, and since you didn’t stay in touch throughout the process, the time and money invested in that project was wasted?

Nobody wants to be micro-managed but going to the opposite extreme where you simply take a hands-off approach isn't a good idea either. Find that right balance between micro-managing and staying in touch.

Proverbs 15:23 says: A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! A timely word given by you as a manager could avoid a lot of heartache later.

Being Too Friendly

There is a fine line between being friendly and approachable to the people who work for you—truly caring about them—and trying to be buddy-buddy friends with them, even to be their counselor. There will be times when as a manager you will have to make tough decisions regarding people in your team, and some people will be tempted to take advantage of your relationship if you're too friendly with them. So, you’ll need to set boundaries that, while not exactly spelled out, are clear to your employees. It doesn’t mean you can’t socialize with them and have fun. But again—finding the right balance between being a friend and being the boss—that’s your challenge.

Failing to Define Goals

When your people don't have clear goals, they muddle through their day. They can't be productive if they have no idea what they're working for, or what their work means. They also can't prioritize their workload effectively, meaning that projects and tasks get completed in the wrong order.

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) says: Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Not everyone is able to see the vision that may be very clear to you, so cast the vision, define the goals, and you’ll have happier and much more productive people.

Are you a manager or supervisor, or perhaps a business owner?

Here are some of the more common mistakes that managers make in dealing with their employees. The smart manager tries to avoid these mistakes, rather than learn from making them!

Not Providing Feedback

According to 1,400 executives polled by The Ken Blanchard Companies, failing to provide feedback is the most common mistake that leaders make. When you don't provide prompt feedback to your people, you're depriving them of the opportunity to improve their performance. To avoid this mistake, learn how to provide regular feedback to your team.

If you’re like me, you hate confrontation, but a good manager has to be able to confront situations that need improvement. For example, if you have an employee who is making very bad impressions by their manner with customers, on the phone or in person, the longer you avoid giving feedback and helping that employee change, the more harm will be done to your organization.

Or course, equally important is to provide positive feedback.

Not Making Time for Your Team

When you're a manager or leader, it's easy to get so wrapped up in your own workload that you don't make yourself available to your team. Yes, your plate is full and it’s easy to rationalize why you don’t have time today for your people. But without being available when they need you, your employees will often flounder and waste time or make unnecessary mistakes.

It really comes down to being willing to listen, as Proverbs 18:13 reminds us: To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.

I think it’s a good idea to establish times in your day or week for regular meetings with key employees where they know you will listen and truly give them time to express their thoughts and ideas. You might consider having an established time when “your door is open” and anyone can talk with you. It will be time well spent.

Are you a manager or supervisor, or perhaps a business owner? Here are some of the more common mistakes that managers make in dealing with their employees. The smart manager tries to avoid these mistakes, rather than learn from making...

What if you got a medical report back that wasn’t good? What if you lost your job? What if you caught COVID-19? What if someone you love died? What if you were robbed by a car jacker? What if someone broke into your home? What if...What if...What if....

We could go on for hours listing all the possible “what ifs” you or I could face. I want to encourage you to move from “what if” to “even if.” It could become a turning point in your spiritual journey, as you learn to trust God in the face of the unknown.

The “what ifs” are often negative, right? They are usually full of fear and worrisome imaginations. And when you focus on all those “what ifs,” when you allow your mind to go to those negative possibilities, it just discourages you and frankly, makes you miserable. So, let me ask you: How much time do you spend in the “what ifs” of life? In fear and worry, thinking about what could or might happen?

Here’s another “what if”: What if you changed “what if” to even if”? Even if I lose my job. . . even if I catch COVID-19, even if I’m robbed, even if someone I love dies. If you’re born from above through faith in Jesus Christ, what if you faced your “what ifs” with truth from God’s Word, truth that would set you free from the fear and worry and despair that your “what ifs” have caused?

We have promises from God’s Word that we should throw in the face of our “what ifs.” Promises like:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze (Isaiah 43:2).

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

So, when you’re facing a “what if,” stop and talk to yourself. Seriously, you need to talk to yourself—out loud if possible—and remind yourself of God’s promises. Remind yourself of these truths. Bring those “what if” thoughts into captivity and make them obey the Lord.

You remember the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, those three Jewish young men who were forcibly taken from Jerusalem to Babylon to serve in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court.  Shortly after they were forced into the service of this pagan king, they were faced with a direct affront to their faith in Jehovah God, as the king set up a golden image and said that everyone had to fall down and worship this pagan image or else be thrown into a fiery furnace.

Talk about a “what if”!  What if they continued to serve the true God, Jehovah, and refused to bow down and worship that golden idol? They would perish as young men in the prime of their lives. This was a serious what if; there was no question that refusing to obey the king’s order would result in death. So, what was their decision? Here it is from Daniel 3:

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).

They went from “what if” to “even if” and declared that they trusted in their God to deliver them, but even if they were burned to death in that furnace, they would not bow to any other god.

Maybe you’re facing a fiery furnace of your own—something that could totally destroy you, or so it seems. Maybe a financial furnace, or a health furnace, or a relationship furnace, and you’re in the “what if” stage as you face that furnace. Can you replace your “what if” with an “even if,” declaring that even if your fears are realized,

What if you got a medical report back that wasn’t good? What if you lost your job? What if you caught COVID-19? What if someone you love died? What if you were robbed by a car jacker? What if someone...

I know it’s not always easy to get along with your boss and I know that bosses are not perfect. But I also know that you will do yourself a great favor to avoid making mistakes. Small things matter, and...

I know it’s not always easy to get along with your boss and I know that bosses are not perfect. But I also know that you will do yourself a great favor to avoid making mistakes.

Small things matter, and good manners is another small thing that can make a difference in how your boss sees you. The simple everyday manners of helping others, letting others go first, thanking people, showing kindness to others—those little things create an impression. Failing to pay attention to them can cause self-inflicted harm to you. This verse sums it up perfectly: For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man (2 Corinthians 8:21).

I’ve given you seven mistakes to avoid, but since we all make mistakes, here’s what to do when you have made a mistake:

Acknowledge the mistake.

Take responsibility and offer to fix the problem if it's one you can fix. That may be something as simple as a sincere apology, but your willingness to take the responsibility will go down very well with your manager.

Move on and do the best possible work you can, avoiding the mistake in the future. Don’t wallow in guilt; put it behind you and learn from the experience.

Don't let the mistake shake your confidence so that you lose your ability to do your work.

Remember, everyone makes mistakes at one time or another. Don't hide behind your mistakes, but don't hide under your desk either. Show your boss it was a fluke and that will never happen again. Then, make it a matter of prayer. If you are a Christ-follower, you have power through prayer and God’s Spirit to put mistakes behind you and move forward.

If you would like to read the entire week’s message, click here to view/download the PDF.