Seven Mistakes New Managers Make

I thought this was very good advice from Career Builder.

That said, I'd like to modify this passage:

Trap No. 2: Always having "The Answer" Too many leaders either come on the scene with "The Answer" (a predetermined fix for the company's problems), or they reach conclusions too early in their tenure. Many fall into this trap through arrogance or insecurity.

"Staffers become cynical if they think their leaders deal with deep problems superficially, making it difficult to rally support for change," Watkins says.

Defense: Embrace and express a spirit of inquiry, even if you're confident that you understand the organization's problems and the best approaches to dealing with them, Watkins advises. Give primacy to learning over doing.

"Time spent carefully diagnosing the organization's strengths and weaknesses is seldom wasted. The key is to be systematic and efficient at learning, establishing and refining an agenda, and adopting methods for gaining insight."

Absolutely true. But on the flip side, a leader must be able to recognize that there are instances when nobody on the team has the answer.

In such instances, rather than accept paralysis, the successful leader must, in the end, be confident enough to say "Ok, gang. Here's what we do."

And leaders of leaders will have the sense to empower their subordinate leaders to do just that.

--Jason Van Steenwyk